Manny Smith awaiting contract verdict

Manny Smith today admitted Walsall's stars are in the dark over their futures ahead of contract D-day.

The defender, whose deal expires next month, is set for talks with boss Dean Smith today when the manager reveals who he will axe in his summer overhaul.

Mat Sadler, Oliver Lancashire, David Grof and Jimmy Walker are all out of contract with Smith and the 23-year-old admitted the manager has kept them guessing.

He said: "There's been no hints yet, we'll speak to him and find out. I've been here a long time now and it's been the same so you've got to play every game like it's your last.

"It's up to the gaffer what he does and then we'll find out what's happening. Hopefully I'll stay, the boys have been excellent and it's a good place to be.

"We've got a good squad and the whole team are together no matter what we do."

Emmanuel Ledesma, Alex Nicholls, Anton Peterlin and Ryan Jarvis' deals also expire in the summer with boss Smith ready to make changes.

Goalkeeper Walker has expressed a desire to continue next season and centre-back Smith has echoed the veteran.

He played 38 games for the Saddlers last term, scoring once, as they finished 19th following Saturday's final-day 1-0 win at MK Dons.

Walsall survived by seven points after battling the drop and former trainee Smith, who has made 104 appearances for the club, admitted they still should have done better.

"Now it's all done it could have been a better season," said Smith, who finished third in the club's Player of the Year voting behind Mat Sadler and winner Andy Butler.

"The lads worked hard and sometimes things didn't go our way. We did what we could. It has been frustrating because we've been ahead and conceded sloppy, stupid, goals but then went to the bigger teams and put in performances. Sometimes we got points and sometimes we didn't.

"The boys played well on Saturday and it would be nice to put in a performance like that every week. But staying up by seven points was a good barrier."