The Merse, now boss at Walsall, has a problem going into their FA Cup tie against Merthyr Tydfill tonight since on-loan keeper Joe Murphy can't play. They'd been trying fractically to sign a temporary replacement but kept running into the same problem: teams don't want their keepers cup-tied.

Seaman is 42 now, and last played (for Man_city) back in January 2004. But he can't play again even if he wants to, as Merson explained...

"I spoke to my agent about Seaman because the only option left was to get hold of a keeper who is retired, but could come back for a one-off game. But he told me David had retired because of an injury and received an insurance pay-off, which means he can't play again."

After considering other retired keepers like Chris Woods and Neville Southall, Walsall have reverted to plan A which means 18 year-old Irishman Rene Gilmartin. Merson has been forced to use a lot of youngsters recently as he tries to get Walsall through an injury-crisis. But he does have at least one old head to draw on: rumoured Republic of Ireland managerial target Stave Staunton is expected to return from injury for the televised match.