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- Says blogger Matthew Turvey
Dean Smith appointed Walsall manager
Friday 21st January 2011, 9:29AM GMT.
Walsall have today appointed Dean Smith as manager until the end of the season.
Smith had been in temporary charge since the Saddlers sacked Chris Hutchings on January 4 and the board have now signalled their intentions.
The Saddlers had 90 applicants but have plumped for Smith with the club bottom of League One, seven points from safety.
They go to Exeter tomorrow and Smith is now aiming to launch a safety bid.
“It is an honour to be given the job on a full-time basis,” he said. “I’ve really enjoyed the last couple of weeks and I am fully-focused on the task at hand. It is a fantastic opportunity for me and it is one in which I’m relishing.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge and I am confident that, together – players, staff and supporters – we can achieve our goals.”
Smith took charge after Hutchings and assistant Martin O’Connor were axed following just four wins in 22 games.
He guided Walsall to two draws and a defeat but has been credited with instilling confidence and belief into a struggling team.
A former Saddlers trainee, Smith returned to the club in 2009 as head of youth and will be assisted by Jon Whitney. Centre of excellence manager Graham Biggs will take on Smith’s youth role for the immediate future.
Chief executive Stefan Gamble insisted Smith was the best man for the job and pledged cash for the new boss.
He said: “We had a large number of applicants for the role, over 90 in total. There were some excellent candidates but, as a board, we believe that Dean’s attributes reflect the modern and innovative approach to football management we are seeking.
“When we considered all of the options available to us, we felt that it was important that we made a positive decision on the manager’s position sooner rather than later to give ourselves the best possible chance of turning our season around.”
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Mullen MKII………..
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When the board members said at Monday’s meeting he could be in the running on the back of results in the next few games, I didn’t realise they meant the 5 a sides in training!!
I wish him well, but what a joke the board of directors are!
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Well Well…..
Cheap option again as for the ambition of the club it just show the board are league two standard and not really look into the future…..
But Deano great player and leader but the players are not made from the same mould though..
Good luck deano you will need it an as for the money for player Sunday league is free and you may get some players that want to play for there money and not just say they are professional big job deano….
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Not a surprise really, and Deano has nothing to lose really: if he keeps us up then he will be lauded as a miracle-worker; if we go down then it’s only what people are expecting anyway. Good luck to him: first job should be to bring in an experienced central midfielder to give us a bit of bite and also some full-back cover. Oh, and a 20-a-season goalscorer would be nice! My sincere best wishes to Dean.
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The absurdity of not even bothering to interview any of the apparent 90 candidates beggars belief. Another own goal by our misguided incompetent leaders.
Good look Dean
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Deano hasn’t got the experience to keep this team up..Somebody with experience would av struggled..I fear the board are already looking to next season in div 2.and have excepted that they just don’t have the funds to launch a realistic survival bid.no doubt a couple of players will be signed but i think any money the club do have will be kept and spent in the close season to make it look like the board mean business.it’s all very sad.
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Good luck Deano you will need it / cheapest option again no ambition no chance see Jones as gone now..
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All the best Dean!
The performances have improved, let’s hope that he can quickly turn that to improved results.
I’ve nothing against Deano but this does indeed smack of yet another cheap option by the club. Over 90 applications and they can’t even be bothered to speak to a hand picked few of them? Strangely similar to a few years back when Bonser assured us he was delighted with the quality of applications, made us wait weeks ….. and then employed an ex used car salesman.
This club will only really change for the better when there is a change of ownership. Speed the day when Bonser finally sells up!
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I see the moaning brigade are already trying to demotivate Dean who has shown that the present squad are at least capable of improving their play under him. It was a pleasure to watch some of the football against Huddersfield compared to the depressing stuff we have seen.
I also am critical of the way the club has been allowed to drift but the continual shouts of “Bonser Out” could not achieve something until interest was shown in buying the club but have succeeded in making the Chairman so demotivated himself that he no longer attends matches. Give Dean a break – he’s lost Mcgivern (though why Man City want him back amazes me) and Steve Jones (strange move) The Bonser out brigade could be partly responsible for this clubs decline since they have nothing to offer but wishful thinking.
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Best decision made, he knows the club and game.
Without changing the squad entirely NO manager in the world could set the world on fire with the players CH brought in.
Dean would not do worse if just used his youth team and home grown players along with any new recruits he hopefully brings end.
More optimistic than any other point this season.
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Really pleased with the apointment. Spoke to his parents at Bristol Rovers who told me how hard Dean was working and how much he was enjoying it. They were really proud and passionate about Walsall Football Club.
Rather than bitching and whining, how’s about we get behind Dean and give hime a fair chance?!?
UTS
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How about the club gettin behind him and let him bring in at least four good players maybe 2 midfielders..
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I am not against Dean Smith.
But for the board of directors, who are supposed to be the decision makers, so they are short listing and making a wish list……then obviously throw it away and appoint Dean, they are letting everyone one of us down.
Why they haven’t had him in charge for the next 3 games, see what the results were, having reviewed that wish list and spoken to candidates to be in a position to appoint the best man.
Dean might be the best man, but I feel let down that they say one thing and do another……again.
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It seems we are all now behind the team and Deano but we are not behind the blatent rubbish that the board have fed us for the last few weeks.
I did a temping job at Ratners the jewellers a few years ago but left before they got a permanent person in to sell cheap gold looking tat. If I had stayed, where would I have been now? :-)
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The board have officially resigned themselves to relegation then.
This is no time for a rookie manager to learn from his mistakes, it’s a shame for Deano he’s been given the job.
Sack the board!
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1. Nobody knows if he has the knowledge / experience or not so back off him.
2. We do not know who applied, so he still may have been the best candidate.
3. I think a young ambitious manager is exactly what we need and probably the only sort of manager that would come to the mess that is the Bank’s Stadium.
4. Let’s hope he keeps us up and he keeps his job. Give him time to sort the club and develop the youngsters.
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Didn’t they say in the focus group they had applicants with experience ranging from Premiership to Non league level? Now I know hutch had that experience and what did we get, but how can someone with no experience be more appropriate than someone with loads?
They said they were going to give Dean a couple more games then decide. what if we lose the next few games? we’re basically stuck looking for first team AND youth team Head Coaches!
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Forget the appointment of Smith, who in the hell has let Steve Jones go for the rest of the season?
We need players, not given them away for god sake! This club is a joke from top to bottom.
Steve Jones I admit has been injured, he’s look out of place when he’s come on, but surely he’s worth a place in the squad with what he can do.
If Saturday’s performance is anything to go by, then maybe giving Smith the job is the right thing to do. He’s got to get rid of the rot and bring in his own men.
But, to have 90 applicants and to not even talk to one is a disgrace. Britannia Stadium for me looks more appealing every week!
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No mention of the players Smith said he may have in for the Exeter game more dribble..
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100% behind Deano. He’s a Walsall boy, and from what I’ve heard a good coach. Let’s all get behind him and lift the whole club out of this mess.
However, I do not understand the logic of advertising the position, receiving 90 applications and not speaking to a single one of them. That is bizarre.
Go get ‘em Deano!
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LIKE OUR REPUTATION HASNT SUFFERED ENOUGH
NOW WE ARE SEEN AS A CLUB ITS NOT EVEN WORTH SUBMITTING A MANAGERIAL APPLICATION TOO
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Come on Deano keep us up.. No chance thou with this lot he has at his disposal..
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How long does a Walsall Manager last on average before they get the sack 2-3 years ?.
If Dean had stayed as a youth team coach then he could have had a job at Walsall for 10 years or more.
Look what happened to Bryan Gunn at Norwich he was a hero at the club.
He became manager and did not do very well so he was sacked and forced to leave the club losing his club hero status in the process.
I really hope Dean does well as I have good memories of his playing days.
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I think that Deano is the logical appointment. He is known by the club, and he has the clubs best interest at heart, which is more than can be expected from an unknown candidate.
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Qoute from STV on Steve Jones moving to motherwell. ‘However, Jones has seen chances limited this term as Walsall attempt to gain promotion and will be hoping to prove his worth under old boss McCall at Fir Park for the remainder of this season.’…..even my frown managed to slightly lift when i read this.
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I have to admit the football has improved under dean I enjoyed watching it for the first time in years last Saturday. He has chucked the tat out and some of those that aren’t making the effort. all signs are good. Mistakes are been made but those are by the players themselves. It might not be the best option and seems risky, but the signs seem to point towards him been a technically competent coach/manager
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Give the guy your support. You’re beginning to sound like the Dingles.
JACK the HAT.
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what a joke the board of directors at walsall football club are another cheap option no way will deano keep us but good luck to him it the same again mullen mk11 bonser just needs to walk away
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