Ashley Grimes has completed a shock move to League One side Walsall less than 24 hours after being released by Bury.

The 27-year-old forward was placed on the transfer list in May after failing to score in 18 first-team appearances last season in his first year at the JD Stadium, following a move from Rochdale.

Walsall manager Dean Smith said he had tried to sign the player while he was at Spotland and moved quickly after a proposed switch to Cheltenham Town fell through earlier this month.

Grimes added: “I can’t wait to get started. This is a great move for me and I am really looking forward to the challenge.

“I’ve come here to score goals, make goals and keep progressing.

“This is a good place to be, everything is in place for us to do well and I am looking forward to getting stuck into League One.

“I’ve played at this level before and enjoyed it, so hopefully I can give a good account of myself.”

Grimes scored twice in Bury’s 4-1 win at Radcliffe Borough in their opening match of the pre-season and had looked set for a second chance with the Shakers after being given a squad number for the season.

Manager David Flitcroft is now sure to step up his efforts to bring in one or possibly two new strikers after revealing last week that he had made contact with both Everton and Barnsley in a bid to sign former loanees Hallam Hope and Danny Rose on a season-long deal.