By Pete Oliver

We are happy to come to the last two months of the season with the opportunity to take some part in the play-off picture Walsall manager Richard Money

Measuring success can be a subjective business, but there is no doubting the continued progress Walsall are making under Richard Money.

The former Liverpool and Fulham defender guided Walsall to the League Two title last season at the end of his first year back in English football management.

And a second successive promotion is now a possibility with the Saddlers among the leading contenders in League One to finish in a play-off spot.

Money told BBC Sport: "The local press asked at the beginning of the season what would be considered a success over the course of my time here.

"I said that if we could have a team capable of challenging for a play-off place in this league every year and then maybe get into the Championship at some stage that would be very successful."

So far so good, and Money's second target could be met at the first time of asking.

He added: "We are doing OK at the minute. We are very happy to be in the mix and we hope we can stay there right until the business end of the season.

"We are happy to come to the last two months of the season with 13 games to go with the opportunity to take some part in the play-off picture."

Money's revival of the Midlands club has been impressive given the speed of their earlier fall from Championship level from 2004 onwards.

606: DEBATE Lee Holmes has been awesome - the most talented player I've seen at this level all season Walli87saddler

Walsall survived just two seasons in League One before being relegated again, prompting the appointment of Money, who had managed successfully in Scandinavia and Australia following an earlier spell in charge of Scunthorpe, where he had twice previously been a player.

The 52-year-old former England B cap, whose coaching career has also involved youth-team positions at Aston Villa and Coventry, always felt Walsall had the potential to climb back up.

But at this stage, their resources are still some way behind some of their League One rivals.

"There are a lot of big clubs in this division. There's no doubt we have the smallest squad, the youngest squad and I would suggest probably the smallest budget so to be competing with those clubs is pleasing," said Money, who has taken the positives from working with fewer players.

"It can have its advantages because everyone is involved. We have a small squad, all of whom can play in the first team and that's important," he added.

Money has also adopted a policy of quality not quantity in his moves into the loan market, adding Derby's Lee Holmes, Bristol City's Kevin Betsy and former Bescot Stadium favourite Michael Ricketts to his promotion-chasing pack in recent weeks.

We have been able to draw games we could have lost and that's important Walsall manager Richard Money

"Like last year we have been able to bring in one or two loans at just the right time to bring a fresh impetus," he said.

"And we have tried to ensure they have brought some quality to enhance the team. We have not brought in loans just to boost the numbers."

Walsall have lost recent away games to promotion rivals Swansea and Carlisle but have bounced back with wins in their next match on each occasion.

And with only one other league defeat in a run stretching back to September, it is not difficult to see how they have worked their way into contention.

"In the main we have remained competitive in just about every game we have played and that's been key," Money added.

"We have been able to draw games we could have lost and that's important.

"What we have to try and do between now and the end of the season is make sure we win games we should win and that we've played well enough to win, and turn draws into victories rather than drop points.

Former England Under-19 skipper Lee Holmes is a recent recruit

"There will be some disappointments along the way but we have to make sure over the course of the last 13 games we get enough wins."

How many is enough remains to be seen as probably as many as 10 clubs still harbour hopes of following up apparent champions-elect Swansea City.

"It might be an interesting figure this year," Money admitted. "With Leeds losing 15 points and Bournemouth and Luton both losing 10 points, that's 35 points out of the system.

"With Swansea 14 points clear the total for fifth or sixth might be smaller than normal but I don't think anyone can assume that and we have to try and get as many points as we can."

If it comes down to nerve, Walsall at least have recent experience of winning a promotion campaign.

Several players have come and gone since Money's men lifted the League Two title in May, but the Saddlers boss will take any advantage going.

He added: "I don't think it will do us any harm. We have got a relatively new and different squad after we made changes in the summer.

"But we have a number of young players who have been around for 18 months so I don't think the experience does us any harm."