He joined Second Division Walsall for 2000–01, in which he scored 13 goals in 48 games, including a hat-trick past Northampton Town. He picked up a play-off winners medal as he was an unused substitute in the 3–2 victory over Reading in the final. He scored 6 goals in 29 games in 2001–02, before he joined Third Division Rushden & Diamonds in March 2002. He played for Rushden at Cardiff in the play-off final, in which they lost 3–1 to former club Cheltenham Town.