Express & Star

Martin O'Connor: Walsall must give something back to fans

Interim manager Martin O’Connor says Walsall’s players must give something back to supporters who are angry and upset with how the season has unfolded.

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O’Connor was yesterday confirmed as the Saddlers caretaker boss until the end of the 2018/19 campaign following the sacking of Dean Keates on Saturday.

It means the 51-year-old has five games to try and keep the club in League One, with Walsall currently sat 22nd in the table having lost 10 of their last 13 matches.

That run has promoted an outpouring of anger on social media with fans furious with how the season had panned out.

And O’Connor says he full understands their frustrations ahead of the weekend’s trip to Accrington.

“I know that fans aren’t happy with the position we are in at the moment,” he said.

“I would be the same if I paid my hard earned money but what we have got to do now is give something back to them.

“The only way I can do that and the players can do that is to perform.

“If the performance levels are good enough then we will get the win we so desperately need.

“If they aren’t then we won’t get the result, it’s as simple as that.

“The last two games has seen us play with a lack of confidence and ultimately you get what you deserve in football matches.

“We need to stick together now. The fans deserve a good performance.

“The way I can affect the team is by selecting an 11 that go out there and give their all for this club.”

O’Connor, a former Saddlers skipper, rejoined the club to be part of Keates’ back room team in February.

He and Keates are close friends. And he has spoken to his pal about taking the reigns for the rest of the season.

“I have spoken to Dean and, whilst he brought me in, we both agreed that if I had the opportunity to take this team, it was one I had to take,” O’Connor continued.

“We have had a long chat with the players yesterday and they have trained hard and have trained really well,

“I am looking forward to seeing the competitiveness in the build up to the game on Saturday and in the game on Saturday.

“We know what is required moving forward. We know what is required for the next five games.

“It’s not about the next five games though, it is all about the next game and that is Accrington.

“In the game against Accrington, I want the performance from the players to be a Martin O’Connor performance. A Walsall performance.”

Meanwhile, a poll on the Express & Star website shows Paul Hurst is the early favourite of Walsall fans to replaces Keates on a permanent basis.