The Official web site has now confirmed the sources “up t’North” that Walsall’s new signing today is none other than ex Saddler Martin Butler.

The striker did, of course, start his career at Bescot, but was a target for some unthinking abuse during his time here, despite the fact that some of his lack of success was caused by being played out of position.

He then moved to Cambridge, where he really made a name for himself, scoring 41 goals in 104 League games, both as a sub and a starter. That got him a big money move to Reading.

He was there for three years, netting 32 goals in 85 league starts (including, of course, one against us at Cardiff), before moving to Rotherham, where he has carried on a scoring record of 1 in every three games. The latter part of his time there had been blighted by illness, however, which is now over.

Butler is 5’ 11”, but surprisingly good in the air, can hold the ball up well and, in my opinion, would be an excellent addition to the squad in this Division. Let’s hope that some of the more moronic element will give him a chance, as we now look like having a strike force capable of scoring plenty of goals at this level.

Richard Money’s completely different approach to football management compared with what went before has been shown up again.

Money is to take the squad away for a “team bonding” session before the first pre-season games, but, in his case, it will be at Lilleshall and the concentration will be on footballing matters.

Money also says that part of the Lilleshall experience will be setting goals for the team for the season to come. Hopefully, this means that every member of the team will know what is expected of them and that the Manager will have a structure by which he can measure progress, both individually and as a team. His approach to the job seems to be a very scientific one, as witnessed by his already stated beliefs about how pre-season should work and his signing of the club up to the “Video Coach” system.

“We will start pre-season training by spending time at Lilleshall, where we will do some team bonding and set team goals for the year ahead,” said Money.
“I am hoping for us to be able to play a couple of practice games whilst we are there before taking the whole squad to Halesowen for our first public friendly fixture”.