It has been a very disappointed week for Walsall, they crashed out to Barnsley in the League One Play-Off Semi-Final in disappointing fashion. However they haven’t felt sorry for themselves and have already unveiled their retained list.
Only two players are released and a total of 14 players (key, fringe and young) have been offered deals of varying lengths.
Attacking midfielder Levi Rowley is the first player to leave after it was decided he wouldn’t be offered a new contract. He failed to make a single first-team appearance for the club, but did spend the second half of last season on loan at Stafford Rangers.
Also moving on is Jordan Murphy. The forward only made two substitute appearances in three years with the first team. He too has spent time out on loan, enjoying spells at Kidderminster Harriers and two separate spells with Worcester City.
It is perhaps the names of those who have been offered contracts which will interest Walsall fans the most. Key player Romaine Sawyers has been offered a three-year deal, although he has attracted plenty of interest from elsewhere. Two-year deals have been offered to right back Jason Demetriou, winger Anthony Forde and central midfielder Sam Mantom.
One year deals have been offered to the likes of Paul Downing, Milan Lalkovic and Jordan Cook, in the hope that they will extend their respective stays at the Bescot Stadium. Craig MacGillivray, Liam Roberts, Andy Taylor, Reece Flanagan and Amadou Bakayako completes the list of those offered one-year extensions.
Midfielder Isaiah Osbourne will be invited back for pre-season training as he is recovering from a serious injury. He will therefore be given a chance to prove his fitness and potentially earn a new contract with the club.
Youngsters Rory Oliver and Kory Roberts have been offered professional contracts with the Saddlers.
Every player has until June 20th to respond to those contract offers, otherwise the offer will be withdrawn altogether.
