Carling Cup Draw

We feature in the Northern section of the competition and, having been seeded for the draw based on our league finish last season, could have hoped for an easier draw than the Owls. The Hillsborough side has splashed out this summer despite their financial problems and will be a big test for Paul Merson’s new look Walsall. The match will be played in the week commencing August 23^rd.

One player that won’t feature in that match is Tommy Mooney. Despite being strongly linked with a switch to Bescot this summer, the former Blues striker today signed for Oxford United.

Having just missed out on Paul Merson’s Walsall youth revolution meanwhile, former trainees Gavin Caines and Karl Hawley are currently searching for new clubs. Both drifted into non league football last season (striker Hawley at Hednesford and defender Caines at Stafford Rangers) but have secured trials with new clubs this summer. Caines will link up with Cheltenham Town whilst Hawley will hook up with former Walsall loanee Paul Simpson’s Carlisle United.

Former Saddler Ian Brightwell has joined the backroom staff at Macclesfield. He will link up with another member of Ray Graydon’s back four from that glorious May day at the Millenium stadium – Tony Barras swapped Notts County for Macclesfield last week.