New boy delighted to be working under coaching staff...
BEN PURKISS put pen-to-paper at Banks's Stadium on Monday following an impressive trial spell.The chance to work under Dean Smith and Richard O'Kelly was the deciding factor as the reliable right-back turned down advances from elsewhere to sign for The Saddlers.
"I've learned over the years in football that the most important people at any club are the manager and his coaching staff and the way they go about things," he said. "I worked with Richard O'Kelly briefly at Hereford last season and he is one of the best people that I have come across in the game.
"The Gaffer is very similar to Richard and they work so well together. Then there is the positivity and enthusiasm of John Whitney and between them you have a great coaching staff.
"It was a big, big pull for me to come here.
"Everything is structured here for the club to move in the right direction and I am delighted to be part of it.
"There is strength throughout League One, but we'll be going about things in the right way and hopefully with a rub of the green and a good start, we can make an impact at this level and see where it takes us.
"I'll be doing all I can to establish myself in the team, be it at right-back or in the centre of defence. I'm a team player and I am looking forward to helping Walsall get results."
Purkiss will be in action this evening as The Saddlers host West Bromwich Albion in our final first-team pre-season friendly (kick-off 7.45pm).