# 2003–04 Walsall F.C. season

During the 2003–04 season, Walsall participated in the Football League First Division.

## Season summary

Walsall started the season strongly with 4–1 wins over local rivals West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest, and on Boxing Day were four points off the play-offs. However, the club's form slumped in 2004, with the club not picking up another league win until March. Manager Colin Lee was sacked on 16 April, though the official reason given was that Lee had contacted Plymouth Argyle regarding their managerial vacancy. Paul Merson was appointed temporary player-manager, assisted by fellow player Simon Osborn. Ultimately, Walsall would be relegated on the last day of the season despite a 3–2 win over Rotherham United: an extra two goals scored during the campaign would have been enough for them to climb above Gillingham to safety. Despite the sorry end to the campaign, Paul Merson was handed a permanent contract as manager.
Defender Paul Ritchie was named as the club's Player of the Season, but returned to Scotland to play for Dundee United at the end of the season.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 20 | Derby County | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 53 | 67 | −14 | 52 | |
| 21 | Gillingham | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 48 | 67 | −19 | 51 | |
| 22 | Walsall (R) | 46 | 13 | 12 | 21 | 45 | 65 | −20 | 51 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 23 | Bradford City (R) | 46 | 10 | 6 | 30 | 38 | 69 | −31 | 36 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 24 | Wimbledon (R) | 46 | 8 | 5 | 33 | 41 | 89 | −48 | 29 | Renamed Milton Keynes Dons in Football League One |

## Players
### First-team squad

    Squad at end of season
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | ENG | Jimmy Walker |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Darren Bazeley |
| 3 | DF | ESP | Zigor Aranalde |
| 5 | DF | ENG | Matt Carbon |
| 6 | DF | ENG | Ian Roper |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Simon Osborn |
| 8 | MF | AUS | Steve Corica |
| 9 | FW | POR | Jorge Leitão |
| 10 | FW | ENG | Paul Merson |
| 11 | MF | ENG | Darren Wrack |
| 12 | MF | ESP | Pedro Matías |
| 15 | MF | ENG | Neil Emblen |
| 16 | FW | ENG | Gary Birch |
| 17 | MF | ENG | Mark Wright |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | MF | ENG | Vinny Samways |
| 19 | MF | SCO | Craig Burley |
| 21 | MF | ENG | Kris Taylor |
| 22 | MF | ENG | Nick Smith |
| 23 | FW | ENG | Andy Bishop |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Matty Fryatt |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Gavin Caines |
| 26 | DF | SCO | Paul Ritchie |
| 27 | GK | NIR | Aaron Kerr |
| 28 | FW | ENG | Jermaine McSporran |
| 30 | DF | ENG | Julian Bennett |
| 32 | GK | AUS | Andy Petterson |
| 33 | MF | IRL | Keith Andrews (on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers) |
| 34 | FW | ENG | Lee Bradbury |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 4 | DF | NZL | Danny Hay (to Football Kingz) |
| 14 | MF | JAM | Jamie Lawrence (to Grimsby Town) |
| 19 | MF | ENG | Craig Stanley (to Telford United) |
| 20 | FW | ENG | Karl Hawley (to Hednesford Town) |
| 28 | FW | JAM | Deon Burton (on loan from Portsmouth) |
| 28 | DF | ENG | Jamie Vincent (on loan from Portsmouth) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 28 | FW | SCO | Gary Wales (on loan from Heart of Midlothian) |
| 30 | DF | NIR | Chris Baird (on loan from Southampton) |
| 31 | GK | ENG | Shaun Allaway (on loan from Leeds United) |
| 32 | MF | ENG | Tony Dinning (on loan from Wigan Athletic) |
| 33 | MF | ENG | Gary O'Neil (on loan from Portsmouth) |
| 50 | MF | ENG | Stefan Oakes (to Notts County) |

## Transfers
### In

* Paul Merson - Portsmouth
* Simon Osborn - Gillingham, 3 July
* Stefan Oakes - Leicester City, 3 July
* Paul Ritchie - Manchester City, August, free