Tommy Mooney insists Walsall could have gone up again

Walsall's leading scorer Tommy Mooney has criticised the club for missing out on a real chance of the play-offs.

Mooney is leaving the club to play in Spain next season, but was frustrated by the end to the Saddlers' campaign.

"It's a missed opportunity, a fantastic chance to get into the Championship, but it's gone," Mooney told BBC WM.

"I think it'll be a while before they get that opportunity again. It's not a coincidence that the clubs that got promoted have the biggest budgets."

I understand your best players have to go on and improve their careers, but it was to the detriment of our team Tommy Mooney

Mooney closed his 10-month Walsall career with a goal in the 2-2 draw with Hartlepool at the Banks's Stadium, his 12th of the season.

"I was delighted to get a goal," he said after wearing Walsall colours for the last time. "I should have had more this season. And to have won the game would have been even better, but it wasn't to be.

"What we had this season was a dressing room that gave everything for each other, and I include all of the coaching staff in that."

When announcing his intention to leave the Saddlers last month, Mooney said that dressing room spirit had been badly hit by the sale of Scott Dann and Dan Fox to Coventry right at the end of the January transfer window.

"We came very, very close," he said. "I understand that your best players have to go on and improve their careers, but it was to the detriment of our team."