WALSALL Football Club can today announce that Jamie Vincent has been given special dispensation to leave the Banks's Stadium for family reasons.

The 35 year-old signed Contract Acceptance Forms with The Saddlers recently but, after much deliberation, requested to move on to pastures new in a bid to be closer to his family.

Jamie's wife and children live in Berkshire and, last season, the left-back commuted from the family home, stopping in the Midlands for four evenings a week.

After speaking with his family, he requested a move away from the Banks's Stadium and is set for contract talks with a Southern-based League Two club.

"It was a very hard decision to make," he explained. "Being away from my family for the majority of the week was difficult last season and, the more we have spoken about it as a family, the more I have realised that I just couldn't do that again.

"I had agreed a deal at Walsall and I'd like to thank the manager and Chairman for their understanding. They have been superb. This isn't a footballing decision. I've loved my time at Walsall and, if I was single or lived closer, I'd never have even contemplated moving on. Family has to come first though and I don't want my family life to suffer.

"Last season, Matty Richards kindly let me use his spare room four times a week, so without him it would have been even more difficult, so I'd like to thank him for that. It's a great bunch of lads at Walsall and, in that sense, I'm gutted to be leaving. However, I've got to think of what's best for my family and I'm hoping to get something sorted with a team nearer to home in the coming days."

"We wish Jamie all the best," added boss, Chris Hutchings. "He's an excellent professional and, as much as we wanted him to stay, it wouldn't have been right for the player or the club to stand in his way.

"He goes with our best wishes."