Walsall Player Manager Paul Merson has been heaping praise on the recent performances of central midfielder Simon Osborn and says that he would like to resign him when his current contract ends in the summer.

“Ossie is an organiser,” Merson told the official site. “There are a lot of young players around him and he is always helping them and telling them where to go and what to do.
He has good composure on the ball and if he plays well then invariably so does the team. His form has been impressive in recent weeks and his presence is important both on the field and off it.
“I will be sitting down with him as soon as our safety is confirmed to talk about how I see things next season. He has a lot to offer both on the playing and coaching side in helping to develop the high number of younger players that will form part of our squad next season.”

Also on the playing front, Merson says he wants to start talks with Julian Joachim as soon as safety is assured about a permanent move, and with Surman, Gerrard and their clubs about (presumably) loans for next season, as he says the signings will show where the club is going.

In the background, Merson also said that he wanted to look at getting Eric McManus’s position sorted in a more permanent role with the youth team, in order to give Mick Halsall more time to work with the first team. This contrasts with what Halsall himself said at the “Meet the Manager” evening, when he said he was eager to get back to working with the youth set up.