Budget to get tighter – Whalley

Chief executive Roy Whalley says the Saddlers will have to keep an eye on the finances next season to avoid the credit crunch.

Whalley believes that with the redundancies hitting the headlines recently, sponsorship in football will prove to be hard to rely on to improve all aspects of the club.

He told the Express and Star: ‘At the moment we are all operating on sponsorships we conducted last summer when the world seemed a happier place.

“It is not like that now and it is going to be hard work. Where companies are making staff redundant they can`t really be seen to be spending a lot on sponsorship of football.

“It will make it a more difficult scenario.”

Whalley believes that signing a two-year shirt deal with the NHS will prove to be beneficial as other League One sides find it difficult to find a sponsor.

He added: “To be able to announce a two-year shirt and stand sponsorship deal, is great really and a relief because I suspect a lot of clubs will be struggling to maintain their current level of sponsorship, or even get a sponsor at all.”

Whalley also thinks that the match-day sponsorship will provide good revenue to the club to strengthen in the summer….good!