By Neil Ravenscroft
May 28 2004

Many thought that Gary Birch would sign the rumoured two year contract he'd been offered with Barnsley . They were wrong. He's signed a new one year deal today. Gary Birch has signed a new one year contract today, despite rumours that he had been offered a two year deal by Paul Hart at Barnsley.

The home grown striker is one of the few players we have to have experience at the second division level, having spent a loan period at Barnsley last season. Paul Hart had been impressed enough to offer him a deal, but Birch has decided to sign a neew deal at Walsall.

Merson seems to have a reasonably high regard for the local youngster, who will now be vying for a place in the starting line up, alongside either Jorge Leitao, Matty Fryatt or the rumoured new striker.