Blog: State of Saddlers nation

With the new fixtures out and the first pre-season games less than a month away, it’s time to look at the latest goings-on down at the Banks’s, writes blogger Mark Jones.

Jeff speaks

For a man who often shies away from talking to the media, the WFC Chairman/Owner was never out of the press at the start of the month. There was the predictable swipe at his critics over Jimmy Mullen’s appointment, the search for potential assistant managers, the attempts to persuade us that we’ll have a proper first team come August 9^th and, never one to worry about being out of sync opinion-wise, the talking up of a return to the Championship.

Oh yeah and there’s even been mention of a change of ground ownership. Steady on Jeff.

Jimmy Mullen

Whilst there was a lot of (justified) criticism of the manner of JMs appointment, this shouldn’t be confused with any bad feeling towards the man himself. Jimmy seems to be a decent bloke who wants to do a good job. However I can’t help feeling we’re all in for a rough ride next season. The sooner we get to 50 points the better.

Jimmy Mullin’s number 2

Whether it’s as someone to bounce ideas off, a critical friend, a go-between with the players or as someone to lighten things up in the dressing room; a good manager needs a good assistant. The haste in which the official line went from ‘there’s no need to worry about an assistant yet’ to a July 2^nd ‘deadline’ was amazing. Not worried about looking like cheapskates by any chance were we?

John Scofield

I know very little about the man but the devil’s advocate in me is obliged to point to a lot of experience in League 2 and Lincoln’s appalling start to last season (after 5 years of being a permanent fixture in the play-off positions) when he was in charge. Welcome to Walsall John.

Sean Geddes

It was good to see Sean sign on as an apprentice with so many other clubs sniffing around. Not least because he’s been a (mini) Saddler since the age of seven and it’s another recognition of the fantastic job Micky Halsall and Bill Jones have been doing for the club for well over a decade. If Sean is good enough, and the word seems to be that he could be a bit special, then he’ll get the chance at a higher level soon enough. I’m looking forward to seeing him play.

The squad for 2008/09

By my calculations we could just about field a side of players with first team experience … if you count Josh Craddock’s 20 minute last day run out … Worried? Me?

(Actually 10 years ago we didn’t sign anyone until mid-July, before possibly the finest 3 day spree in the history of the club where we brought in Andy Rammell, Neil Pointon and offloaded Roger Boli for a fair wad of cash. I don’t believe there’s much chance of a repeat of the heroics of 98/99 but at least it takes your mind off the prospect of a plethora of unknown triallists.)

The new kit

I quite like it.

… why no sponsors name though?

Ground for sale?

So have I got this right? The landlord(s) sell the ground to the Council and the club rents it off them instead: and this guarantees our future for the next two decades. I never actually realised it was in doubt.

Apparently Mr. Bonser has ‘always said that the ground and buildings of a football club should be in the ownership of the people of the town.’ Always? I really must pay more attention.

The problem I’ve got with all this is that, unless the current landlords are in a particularly benevolent mood, I can’t see how anything changes. Walsall F.C. still won’t own it’s own ground and would still have to pay rent that could be better spent on the football set up.

I’ve got a feeling this story will run and run.

Roll on Yeovil.

(PS Just a word on Euro 08 – the first time I ever want one of Scolari’s teams to win and what happens? Muppets!)