Time to map out a plan for Villa's future
- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Dean Smith open minded on future
Monday 10th January 2011, 11:20AM GMT.
Walsall caretaker manager Dean Smith has insisted he is under no pressure to resolve his future at the club.
Smith guided the Saddlers to a dramatic 3-3 draw at Tranmere on Saturday after they trailed 3-1 with five minutes remaining and is relaxed about his position.
The head of youth has yet to reveal whether he wants the top job but revealed the board and chairman Jeff Bonser are not rushing him.
He said: “Not at all. I’ve always had a really good relationship with the chairman and I am the head of youth at the club who is now the caretaker.
“The chairman asked me to become the caretaker and see where it takes us. I’m just going to take it a game at a time and see where we go from there.
“It’s still too early to think about it, my thoughts now go straight to Bristol Rovers tomorrow.
“My only focus is to try to win football games.”
But Smith did admit he enjoyed his first taste of senior management at Prenton Park after Andy Butler’s 94th minute header salvaged a point.
The caretaker boss said: “I loved it, I always said before the game I was going to enjoy it.
“It’s not often people get the chance to be at the helm of a football club and be responsible for the players and performance.
“I enjoyed it.”
Matt Richards fired the Saddlers ahead before his own goal and Aaron Cresswell’s free kick put Rovers 2-1 up.
Albion loanee Lateef Elford-Alliyu made it 3-1 in the second-half.
Jonathan Macken’s 85th minute strike gave the Saddlers hope and Butler’s last-gasp equaliser rescued a point to keep rock-bottom Walsall eight points from League One safety.
Smith added: “We wanted to take three points, we haven’t but we got a point which is what we started with.
“We’re no worse off from where we were and I’m still unbeaten as a manager so I’ve got a great record! We’ll take the positives but there are things which need to be worked on.
“We all know that because that’s why I’m in this position and why we’re in the position we are in the league.”
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