The Express and Dingle has named the players that manager Paul Merson wants rid of this January.

As predicted by many, it is, again, not the experienced pros who are going to be shipped out, but, as after the Slough debacle last season, it will be some of the younger players.

The paper has said Kris Taylor, Joe Broad, Johnny Harkness and Taiwo Atieno will be departing and that Merson says he will not stand in the way of a rumoured move for Julian Bennett.

Kris Taylor has been rumoured to be the butt of Merson’s wrath more than once, but Harkness and Atieno will be a major surprise, as neither has really been given much of a chance by Merson and neither has let the side down on the odd occasion they have played.

Most fans would expect an apology from the Manager for the enigma that is Joe Broad. Merson seems to have made a mistake bringing him to the club, but then doubled that error by giving the player a two year contract extension, as, indeed, he did with Kris Taylor.

With his injury due to keep him out of the FA Cup tie at Barnsley on Saturday, the club have announced that Jorge Leitao has gone.

The popular Portuguese centre forward’s five year stay at Bescot Stadium has been ended earlier than was expected, due to the fact that he was going to miss the next game.

It is fortunate that he was available for the last home game, which gave Saddlers fans a chance to say goodbye to a man who will always be classed as a legend at the club.

Vá com deus, Jorge.

Bennett Bid

Meanwhile, the official site says that we have received an enquiry for Julian Bennett.

The young centre half has been rumoured to be stalling on a contract extension offer and has also been subject to reported interest in the past from both Wolves and Nottingham Forest.

Bennett is under 24, of course, and a product of the youth set up, so the club would be entitled to compensation should he walk away at the end of his contract.