Judging by the events of last week, everything could change by the time this comes out. Anyway . . . writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.

I’ve tried my best to digest the situation regarding Scott Dann but I keep coming to the same conclusion – that it was yet another panic selling.

Scott was under contract to us until 2010, Coventry wanted him and came in with a big money bid. Apparently Scott got wind of this (it doesn’t really matter how) and caused a big scene demanding a move. And all of this with the clock ticking towards the close of the transfer window.

So (and please correct me if I’m being naïve) didn’t Walsall hold all the aces here?

We could have offered to loan Dann to the Sky Blues, therefore effectively by-passing the deadline, on the understanding that Cov would buy the player in the close season for the agreed fee. The clause then being that the loan spell would begin as soon as we’d bought in some cover for Scott

Everyone then would be reasonably happy, Coventry get their man, we get the money, Scott gets his move, Richard Money gets time to try and find a replacement (hopefully with his budget suitably enhanced) and the Board don’t suffer a massive P.R. own goal.

I get the impression from the statements coming out of the club since Friday that they were a bit shocked by the overwhelming negative reaction from fans. 

Well sorry, but what were they expecting, flowers and love hearts? 

Unfortunately the fans have seen it all before – loads of times.

You almost imagine the scene in the boardroom, like something out of a Tom and Jerry cartoon, with the pound signs lighting up as soon as the club receives any half-decent offer for one of our players. 

Think Fryatt and Bennett, think Darren Byfield, think Martin O’Connor, think Stuart Rimmer way back, all players seemingly sold with indecent haste.  

Predictably the club was then forced to adopt the siege mentality and find a scapegoat to alleviate the pressure. On this occasion the fans and the media escaped the wrath of Jeff (for now). No, it was all the player’s fault, just like it had been for both Byfield and O’Connor, and the club just couldn’t do anything about it. 

Yeah right and my date of birth is 4.2.08.

Personally I have no issue with players being ambitious (even though I reckon Scott could have done better for himself) and equally I understand that we are only a League One club and therefore always having to face the possibility of having our best players lured away. 

That’s not what the problem has been this last week, even if one local journalist (the one who seems to constantly revel in telling us how small-time we are) predictably took it upon himself to tell us it was. 

The problem for me is that a club which prides itself on its commercial know how just doesn’t seem to have a clue how to present itself to its ‘customers’.

There is a perception that the club is small time, lacking in ambition, not caring about its fans. It matters little now if this is true or not, those in charge need to give us something to change that perception before all the promise of this season fades away. 

It’s your call fellas …