Chris Hutchings vows to fight on
Monday 29th November 2010, 12:00PM GMT.
Under-fire boss Chris Hutchings has vowed to fight on – despite Walsall’s season spiralling out of control.
They crashed out of the FA Cup after a woeful 1-0 defeat at League Two Torquay on Saturday – just 24 hours after the board issued a vote of confidence in their manager.
The Saddlers have won just three times in their last 19 games to leave them out of every cup competition and bottom of League One.
But chief executive Stefan Gamble backed Hutchings on Friday and the boss is remaining calm.
When asked about his future, he said: “Well you’re going on about the board, but if that’s what they’ve said then I don’t know.
“Let’s just get on with our jobs. It’s as simple as that.”
Hutchings’ problems deepened when he confirmed Reuben Reid and Jon Macken are out for up to three weeks.
Reid is out with a grade one tear in his hamstring, while Macken has suffered a reccurrence of a calf problem.
Captain Darren Byfield is already out with a long-term knee injury and Liam Dickinson’s loan from Barnsley ends against Oldham this weekend.
And Hutchings admitted he will have to act quickly if he wants to extend Dickinson’s deal.
He said: “Reuben and Jon will be out for two to three weeks. We’re going to have to have a little think about Liam’s loan now.
“We’ve been thinking about it anyway, but obviously it might make our minds up a little bit more now, because if the injuries are two or three weeks then we’re going to be short of numbers in that area.
“We’ll go away and sort it out today or Tuesday.”
Billy Kee’s first-half penalty settled a tie which left the Saddlers free to focus on League One survival.
They are seven points adrift of safety and Hutchings once again called on his men to start taking responsibility.
He said: “The players have got to stand up and be counted as well.
“It’s a bad result and that’s what we’re here for – to get results and win football games.”
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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Anyone else in any other job with this level of incompetence would have been sacked by now.
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We dont want you to fight on! Your clearly getting nowhere! Please admit this is beyond you and leave!
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Blah blah blah blah blah! The club is a joke, I’ve gone through denial, anger and now I feel sorry for them and can’t help but laugh, laugh at the incompetence, laugh at the sheer amature nature of the club.
Like the club, I think I’ve lost it!!
HA! hahahahahaha!!
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Have some respect Chris and just go!
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The club is a shambles from top to bottom. Hutchings says
“Let’s just get on with our jobs. It’s as simple as that.”
But it’s not that simple is it? Hutchings has proved that he is completely incapable of doing his job. He cannot motivate or organise the players and is totally incompetent tactically. Just which bit of his job is he actually getting on with?
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Fight on? Hutchings you couldn’t fight your way out of a wet paper bag. You’d just come up with some rubbish about being unlucky.
Go!
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I CANT BELIEVE WHAT I AM READING ,THE LEAST I SHOULD AV BEEN READING WAS WALSALL SACK HUTCHINGS UNREAL CANNOT BELIEVE THIS MAN STILL HAS A JOB HE IS TAKING THE P*** NOW..
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“It’s a bad result and that’s what we’re here for…”
You sure are Chris – if you were judged on bad results you’d have won Manager of the Year by now! Still, it looks like Mr Gamble and co are happy regardless.
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How many more fans to WFC have to alienate before they realise what is happening?
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I didn’t renew my very long term season ticket this time because that clown of a manager was still in post. How we finished last season in that position still defies an intelligent response to anyone who had to suffer the home form and performances we saw under Hutchings who was out of his depth then.
I don’t like to say I told you so to other fans but………..I told you so.
Hutchings is probably a very nice man but he is incompetent as a football coach and manager. His record at Walsall and before proves that.
He was probably cheap and I feel a little sorry for Martin OConnor as being number 2 to a clown will stay with him for a long time.
The fact that Hutchings is still in post in late November after a catalogue of defeats and dire performances makes one ask – Are the Board asleep or is there a hidden agenda?
Wacka for manager would be interesting.
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Mr bonser please show you care and get him out! I never thought I would see the day but cant be bothered to go to the banks’s
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It’s OK becaise he “can assure everyone that we are all working extremely hard to put things right and get back on track” like they have been since August with tremendous results.
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I did quite a big blog last week which for some reason never made it on to your page Express and star !! I was asking fan’s to google ” top 100 richest people involved with football club’s ” in the country i.e premier , championship , league one , etc. etc. You wil be shocked to firstly find that Walsall even get mentioned on there to begin with , but secondly be absolutely gobsmacked to find we have THREE shareholder’s in the top 100 !! one gentleman worth £25 million another one worth £80 million and believe it or not another one worth a staggering £240 million , how the hell can our club be in such a state of decline when you have people with that much money in the back ground , unless of cause they are just some more leeches bleeding this club dry ! please go and look for yourselves and come back and blog some idea’s please , that is if this blog is aload this time !!!
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sorry , allowed that should be !
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There is no hidden agenda walsall fc is dead and still fans still keep going what that says about them i dont know.
AFC WALSALL
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The only positive line in this article is the one that says Liam Dickinson’s loan deal ends on Saturday.
No doubt Hutchings will negate that by extending it thanks to more “generous” funding from the board as they back him after another defeat….
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How dare the club use young Grigg as part of their feeble propaganda campaign. He has only just made his full debut and already the club are wheeling him out to support the clueless manager.
Shameful.
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Gamble said in July according to E&S:
Gamble, a board member for three years, said: “It’s a very exciting time and a great opportunity to take the club forward. I’ll be responsible for the majority of decisions which go on here. It’s been building for two years and it will now rest on my shoulders.
“This represents a real opportunity to build on the sound foundations already in place at the club and to introduce fresh new energy and ideas to play a key role in taking the club forward. To do this we need to continue to strengthen both on and off the field as well as increasing our supporter base.
“I am honoured to be appointed as chief executive.
He has really took the club forward?. He needs to be sacked along with Hutchings.
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Lost Hope, when it comes to Walsall there is only one person pulling the strings and that is Bonser. he may give other directors fancy titles but in truth they are only allowed to dance to his tune.
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New CEO’s will usually bring fresh ideas and a vibrant new way of thinking, motivating their employees to move forward the business.
Stefan Gamble doesn’t appear to have done much at all!………….it suggests he is just a puppet.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO OUR LOVELY CLUB?
As for CH…………well I am bored with watching at the moment! He was quoted as saying that he would ‘get the club promoted in 2 seasons’, well Chris you may or may not get your chance to get us promoted from L2 next season!
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON THE TRAINING PITCH?
The club has this ‘great facitlity to attract better players’, but doeasn’t seem to be using it to train them how the play!
FRUSTRATING AND VERY SAD!
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Chris
The record speaks for itself
P 23 W4 D4 L 15
We appear to be heading into oblivion, under Merson, we were inspired by Richard Moneys ability to climb back out. Do not think we will be so lucky this time, as more and more fans decide to leave. the budget next time around will be lower.
where is the Boards plan of being in the Championship next season, why do they not act.
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The board are doing everything in their power to change our fortunes, don’t you know?
It must be true, Stefan Gamble said so.
Funny, the only thing I can see being done is loads of baord members sitting around doing nothing apart from the odd half-hearted press release trying to convince us something is being done.
We’re not mugs you know, we’ve been taken for fools too many times. Sack the management team NOW and at least do something likely to change our fortunes.
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What a pity for such an old club as Walsall who were once in the Championship. Yes, in part it is the performance on the pitch but this is reflected in the management. This administration has neither the drive, competence or ambition to be successful.
If Mr Bonser and his associates had any decency, they would put the club up for sale to anyone with sufficient funds and passion to turn the situation around.
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HUTCHINGS OUT AND TAKE BONSER WITH YOU.
You have just lost another three fans has me and freinds wont be attending anymore while HUTCHINGS there.
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“It’s a bad result and that’s what we’re here for”
Another priceless quote from Hutchings on a par with the ’3-0′ Bournemouth and Sheff. Wednesday results being ‘poles apart’ (in terms of points accrued, goal difference,…?)
Here’s a suggestion Mr. Hutchings:
if you’re so convinced that things are going well under your tutelage, put your money where your mouth is: i.e. state that if Walsall are in the relegation positions after the Xmas schedule, offer to resign.
The only reason that you haven’t been sacked is because the club can’t afford to get rid of you: if you had any integrity, you would offer to fall on your sword if the results hadn’t improved – let’s face it, they are your players and several fans have made observations (e.g. the weakness of central midfield, but Mattis still left…) that you have to carry the can for.
Why the board or the manager can’t accept responsibility is beyond me(Tranmere at home should have been the time to act). I fear that now, it is too late, regardless of who is in charge.
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Just go now, I cannot believe how you still have a job. We are bored of your ‘hard luck/ silly mistakes/ roll up sleeves/look at the match DVD’ drivel that you spout every Saturday evening.
I think the best Xmas present Walsall fans could receive is the news that the Clown Hutchings has left!
CH OUT!!
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