By Pete Oliver

Money has had his ups and downs at Walsall this season

Walsall boss Richard Money wants the Saddlers' promotion success to be a launch pad for further progress, not the limit of the club's ambitions.

Money's appointment last summer has produced instant dividends at a club which had slipped from the Championship to League Two within the space of three seasons.

Now back on the upward curve, Money is keen to keep the momentum going, starting with a bid to go up as champions by wresting the title from the grasp of leaders Hartlepool in the closing weeks of the season.

He told BBC Sport: "There was a great expectation around the club that we should have a good season and I genuinely felt we would have a chance.

"Having a good start got us into a good position and we have been able to see it through. Now we want to try and see it through even further by pushing Hartlepool for the title.

"We have probably got to win all three games. If we win our two home games that will give us a chance going to Swindon on the last day of winning it.

"We have been in the top two since the fifth game of the season and were top for 25 weeks in a row so I think we deserve to still be in contention and we will give it our best shot."

We were outstanding in the first half of the season and our football was of a really high quality - The second half was a bit more of a struggle Richard Money

The foundations for Walsall's promotion win were laid as Money re-built a squad in pre-season and then saw his team make a remarkable start.

They were beaten only once in the league before 9 December and did not concede a goal in their opening nine fixtures at the Bescot Stadium.

"We were outstanding in the first half of the season and our football was of a really high quality," Money said.

"The second half was a bit more of a struggle. Results have come in recent weeks but the pitches have been poor and the football tends to become a lot more nervy.

"I would like to think that, even though we still have to do the right things to win matches, we can play with a bit more freedom now."

Having seen their lead at the top of the table eclipsed by Hartlepool, Walsall must now try to make up a two-point gap.

"The two top teams have done it in different ways," Money added. "We got off to a good start and have been able to maintain it in the main, while they got off to a poor start and then have come like the proverbial express train.

"The run they have had has not been a good run, it's been a once-in-a-lifetime run."

Regardless of the outcome of the title race Walsall will be back in League One next season with aspirations of making it back to Championship level.

"There's still a re-building job to do done," said Money. "It was important that we arrested the slide and we have been able to do that.

This club has a history of being well run and that is not going to change Richard Money

"Now we have to try to be as positive as we can over the summer and try to build a team capable of competing in the next division.

"Every club that gets promoted feels they need to strengthen and we will be no different.

"There are a number of players out of contract and the first thing is to secure those we want to stay and then look to add some who can help push us onto that next stage."

Money expects a difficult summer as he looks to compete for quality players at affordable terms.

"We know what type of people we want, although they are not easy to get because those players are sought after," he added.

"This club has a history of being well run and that is not going to change. But the chairman will do his best to give me a budget to work to which will give us a chance."

And top of the wanted list for the former Liverpool and Fulham defender is likely to be a proven goalscorer.

This season's success has been built around consistent rather than prolific contributions with Martin Butler and midfielder Dean Keates leading the way with a dozen goals each.

"In the next division it's the forwards that make the difference and when you move up to the division above it's the same. I would suggest pretty much everybody else will be after the same thing," Money said.

Money can at least offer the prospect of a club rejuvenated since the former Scunthorpe boss returned from posts in Australia and Scandinavia for another crack at the English game.

"I had three great years abroad. It was a great experience and I had been very successful," he said.

"But people don't know too much about that and I needed to come back to England to put myself back on the map.

"I felt this was a good club to do it with and the results have vindicated that decision. We are all very happy about that."