Jeff Bonser has decided to end press speculation and announce that Paul Merson will continue as Walsall manager next season - or will, at least, be offered a contract.

Despite a roller coaster twelve months in charge, the Chairman says he has seen enough recently to make his mind up that Merson should stay. He told the official site:-

“Paul Merson took over a very difficult situation at the end of the 2003/04 season,” he said. “While he could not save us from relegation, I saw enough from him to believe that he deserved the chance to continue as manager for the 2004/05 season.
It was never going to be easy. A number of established players left the club and a major team rebuilding exercise had to be undertaken.
Paul has made some astute loan signings to ensure our continuation in League One, and his willingness to give some of our young players first-team experience will reap future benefits for the club.
Do not forget also the contribution he has continued to make as a player, where his influence has often been decisive.
I believe that this season has been a very valuable learning exercise for Paul, and that he deserves the chance to continue in his present role.
We want Paul to succeed and believe that he can lead us to a successful 2005/06 campaign and a bright future.”

It is noticable, however, that there is no indication of the length of any contract to be offered.

As readers of the site will be aware, Upthesaddlers.com has, in recent weeks, received information from two separate sources at the club that there has been no decision made so far as to whether to offer player-manager Paul Merson a new contract or not.

Merson’s contract expires this summer and the only thing that has been said on the subject of a renewal is the Manager’s own statement that he had been told he wouldn’t be here next season if the club were to be relegated.

With the club finally achieving safety with the excellent win on Saturday against Hull City, it is surely time for Chairman Jeff Bonser to make a decision one way or another.

Whether he will decide to keep Merson on, or whether he wants to bring a new man in, that decision needs to be made now, in order to give time over the summer to sort out the squad for next season. A very large number of the squad are out of contract themselves and the introduction of the transfer window to this division next season means that the Manager will need as long as possible to ensure the squad is ready for a play off push next season.

Time to act one way or another, Jeff!