Kevan Broadhurst has mapped out a blueprint for Walsall's future but it won't include either Paul Devlin or Scott Fitzgerald.

Walsall parted company with the experienced Devlin after Tuesday night's home defeat against Bourne-mouth whilst Fitzgerald has returned to Brentford to further limit Broadhurst's options in attack.

While Fitzgerald was considered superfluous to requirements, Devlin's decision to terminate his contract was taken at his own behest.

The 33-year-old was dropped to the bench for the fixture with Bournemouth as Broadhurst tinkered with his formation and decided a stint on the sidelines was not what the doctor ordered at this stage of his career.

"Paul Devlin came to me after game and said he wanted to leave. He wasn't happy being on the bench and I understand that," said a sympathetic Broadhurst.

"He has been a terrific servant to the game and I can understand his frustration. He decided that he has had such a great career that he didn't want to go out not playing games.

"I didn't want him to go, as I still think he had a part to play and I felt he needed a bit of a breather.

"It his decision and I respect that. He felt it was the right decision for him and he has gone with our best wishes. His wife had a baby last week and maybe he has got other priorities.

"Scott hadn't figured for quite a while and decided to go back to Brentford, but he is a terrific lad who did everything I asked of him."

The departure of two strikers from Bescot leaves Broadhurst with Steve Claridge, James Constable, Mads Timm and Andrew Barrowman as his only recognised front men.

During their last 16 league fixtures the Saddlers have failed to break the deadlock on 11 separate occasions.

While defensive blunders have not aided their cause there is no denying that a punchless attack has been the biggest contributing factor to Walsall's decline.

A victory against Port Vale tomorrow is paramount and Broadhurst intimated he would keep faith with Constable and Claridge.

However, Broadhurst's own future is just as uncertain as that of the club's. Avoiding relegation would leave him as the likely incumbent of the Bescot hotseat whereas League Two football would leave his chances in the balance.

Whether Broadhurst is at the helm or not next season, he is adamant there need to be radical changes if the club is to move forward.

"It is major task," he said bluntly. "It is only when you get inside a place that you actually see what has gone on.

"On the surface it didn't look too bad but, when you get into the nitty gritty, there is a lot of hard work. There will be big changes whoever is in charge next season and I have given the board my blueprint for going forward.

"Whether they use that under me or someone else is up to them, but it does need a major overhaul in all departments."