The rumour machine has been working overtime yet again, this time bringing up on of the “usual suspects”. The only trouble is, word on the “streets” is that the rumour is right this time.

We have known for a couple of weeks that former Saddler, Trotter and England International Michael Ricketts has been talking to the club and informed opinion now says that we are very close to a deal.

The player achieved some infamy last season, after being released by Southend in acrimonious circumstances and amidst talk of him not training and being over weight. He went on a strict fitness regime in order to get himself back on track and finished the season in a very good spell with Preston North End. The Lancashire club are now looking at rebuilding for another assault on promotion, though, and he wasn’t kept on.

Ricketts, of course, had an extremely mixed relationship with the Walsall fans first time around, especially when he left for a club (Bolton) we had been playing in the same Division. His goals, however, managed to earn them promotion the following season and stay in the Premiership the year after that. Since then, he career has gone downhill, but he certainly is more than good enough to score plenty of goals at this level and Richard Money has already proved his ability to get the best out of players.

Personally, I’ve got fingers and everything else crossed for this one!