Walsall player-manager Paul Merson has confirmed the Saddlers are facing competition for Darren Bazeley's signature after New Zealand outfit Auckland Kings expressed an interest in the out-of-contract defender.

Bazeley has been offered a new deal by Merson but intends to spend two weeks in New Zealand before deciding whether a switch to join former Saddler Danny Hay at Kings would prove preferable.

"We have put an offer of another year to him," said Merson, "but he's going over there for two weeks to see what it's like.

"If Darren were to go, it would be a major loss to us but if we could keep him then we'd have a very good back four or five for the Second Division.

"He has loads of experience and has played in the Second Division before, winning promotion with Watford, so he knows what it's all about.

"With having to have so many youngsters in the squad, that experience will be vital," Merson told the Express & Star.