Dean Keates calls old pals to find new Walsall gems

The Saddlers have operated without an official team of scouts in recent years, something Keates has vowed to address this summer.

And he revealed a host of former club favourites have offered their services to ensure he is able to monitor transfer targets across the country.

“It (a scouting network) is something that we need,” Keates said. “It’s something that wasn’t in place at Wrexham, I had to get it sorted up there to a certain extent.

“But we are in the Football League and we haven’t got active people out on the ground looking, it needs addressing.

“We need people out there taking in games so we can bring players in.

“And I’ve had ex-players of the football club offer their services.

“They are based all around the country. We have people who have got an affinity to the football club and who are prepared to help the club. If they are the offers that are out there, I’d be daft not to accept.

“Over the next few weeks that is something I want to put together properly.”

While a host of professional football teams use a video-based system called Wyscout to watch players, Keates would rather have his targets watched in person.

“Yes you can watch games on Wyscout scout – there are platforms to view games,” he continued.

“But I believe we need people out there on the ground.

“I am looking to try and get someone who can be out all the time watching games for us.

“I want them scouting players and looking at teams a couple of weeks before we play them so we know how they operate.

“Then I want the option of having someone in the South West or the North East who can go and watch a player.

“They will be my direct link, I’ll say who we want watching and other people will take in games and see who is out there.

“Then if I get a good report from someone I trust, I’ll go and watch the player and make the final decision.”