As Walsall prepare to return to training next week, manager Jon Whitney has spoken to the local press and revealed that, despite having success with the likes of Jason McCarthy, Scott Laird, Eoghan O'Connell and George Dobson, he plans to vastly reduce the number of loaned-in players as he targets more stability for his side.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Jon said; "I am going to vastly reduce my loans this year. That is really important for me. It is important I have players for the long term. That gives us the chance to get some stability and add longevity to the team.
"When I signed a three-year contract to become manager last year I always knew it was going to take 12 to 18 months to really build my team. Luke signed a permanent. The centre-half and goalkeeper are permanent additions.
"We have got two more possible permanent arrivals after that and then maybe one loan player. It will definitely be fewer loans than last season."
The manager also spoke of his desire to add players with similar work ethic to his remaining squad, he continued; “We want to sign players who are coachable. That is the type of character we want – they have got to have a really good work ethic. They have got to be players that will improve us and players that we can improve in the environment we offer.
"We have got the likes of Joe Edwards, James O’Connor, Adam Chambers, Flo Cuvelier, Erhun Oztumer, Kieron Morris, Ama Bakayoko. We have got that really good nucleus but we are adding permanent signings to make sure we move forward."