Kenny Hibbitt urges Walsall to speak
Wednesday 27th October 2010, 10:50AM BST.
Former Walsall boss Kenny Hibbitt has urged the Saddlers to break their silence on manager Chris Hutchings’ future.
Hibbitt signed Hutchings and assistant Martin O’Connor while in charge at Walsall and reckons the duo must be given until January to save the season.
The club have issued a firm “no comment” to questions surrounding the under-pressure Hutchings after a dismal 4-1 home defeat to Tranmere at the weekend.
The Saddlers are joint bottom of League One ahead of Saturday’s trip to Huddersfield and Hibbitt, who managed Walsall between 1990 and 1994, insisted the club must tell the fans what’s going on
He said: “They have to come out and say ‘Chris and Martin are here, they are the manager and the coach, now let’s get on with it.’
“It doesn’t have to be a vote of confidence because I don’t like that, but it needs to be more positive than negative.
“I hope they get the support from the directors and given the opportunity to resurrect their season.”
Supporters are calling for Hutchings to go following one win in 11 games – and just three all season – but Hibbitt stressed there is still time to turn it around.
The former Wolves midfielder said: “I would definitely wait and see and give them until January.
“If they find the situation hasn’t changed then maybe they will need to get a new guy in.
“It wouldn’t be too late. It’s only October so it’s early, let’s wait until everyone is fit and then judge them.
“It only takes two or three wins and you’re going up the table.”
Hibbitt revealed his surprise at how badly the season has gone but sympathises with his former charges because of the lack of available funds.
He said: “Chris was one of my first signings and I bought Martin for £40,000 from Crystal Palace.
“I was looking forward to it when they got together and I thought they would be a successful pairing.
“But it’s difficult when a manager hasn’t got any money to spend in today’s climate.
“I’m not talking mega-bucks but you have to wheel and deal with some money and it’s difficult when you are just taking players no one else wants.”
UK Sport
Latest Blog — A week is a long time in football
This time last week we were staring down the barrel, third from bottom with a worse record than at the same stage last year, writes Saddlers blogger Mark Jones.
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Sorry Kenny – there won’t be anyone left in the stadium to switch the lights on or off by January!
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i cant beleive ch is still here… i thought he would have gone 4 games ago but losing 4-1 at home to the botton club would see all managers sacked but not here why? what does hutching hold over bonser?????
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Errr… no money to spend? What happened to the 500k from Deeney’s sale (not to mention the sales of Fox, Dann and Gerrard over the last couple of years).
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Kenny, I have the utmost respect for what you managed here at Walsall with virtually no funds. However, you clearly haven’t been watching Walsall games recently. The standard of “football” is at an all time low. There is no plan, tactics or motivation. A good manager does not need thousands of punds to spend to be able to send a team out motivated and with a clear plan, yet somehow Hutchings manages it week in week out. Come and watch the football and you will see for yoursel that no matter how nice guys these two are they are just not up to managing a professional football team.
Either they go or I fear mmany more fans will decide attending games is a pointless waste of money.
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Not in a position to comment on Walsall although like most midlands fans I wish them well. It was just great to read about King Kenny, a true Wolves legend!
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sorry kenny youve got it so wrong its time for both to go. my dad a supporter of 65 years said saturday was worst ever performance by walsall team . walsll fans know we are never going to be man u but do expect a well drilled battling side who play with pride .this management team along with our joke board have made us a laughing stock and fear further embarrasment in the shape of fleetwood.we will bring in players to replace loanees that hutch originally deemed not good enough a recipee for disaster
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Kenny.
Best repect to you, but ‘The Clowns’ Hutch & O’Connor have got to go and now, before we have no club left at all.
They BOTH have not a clue, the sqad of players we have should be fighting promotion, but in hindsight, we will be down by end Jan.
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i agree with those comments, we may not have money to spend but our team on paper isnt a bad side and with loan signings such as ruben reid we should be doing a lot better than joint bottom. i think a fresh face might give our team a bit of a kick n maybe get them playing a bit better n not making stupid decisions like bringing reid off for below average alex nicholls.
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we are the fans. we don’t want him. go now please
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OK Kenny the club dont talk to the fans, when you was sacked we was never told why it was all hush hush, So Kenny tell us
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