Byfield leaves Saddlers

11 May 2011 15:00
Walsall club captain Darren Byfield tops a nine-man list of out-of-contract players who will not be offered new deals at the Banks`s Stadium this summer. The veteran striker, who missed a large part of the campaign due to a knee injury, will be heading out of the door along with Steve Jones, Paul Marshall, Clayton McDonald, Aaron Lescott, Tom Williams, Jonny Brain, Alex Hickman and Sean Geddes. However manager Dean Smith, who is taking the first opportunity to shape his squad having only grabbed the reins in January, has offered new contracts to player of the season Andy Butler along with Jimmy Walker, Matt Richards, Julian Gray, Emmanuel Ledesma, David Bevan and George Bowerman. The Saddlers will also be activating contract extensions for both Will Grigg and Jamie Paterson. Jon Macken, Oliver Lancashire, Manny Smith, Alex Nicholls, Richard Taundry and Darryl Westlake are all already contracted to Walsall for next season, while first-year professionals Jake Jones and Connor Deards have been offered contracts. The midlands club avoided relegation from League One on a dramatic final day to the season.

Source: PA