Express & Star

Fans fear dream is dead without boss Dean Smith

Published
Last updated

Two-thirds of Walsall fans believe their promotion dreams are in tatters following the shock departure of boss Dean Smith.

more

Smith and assistant manager Richard O'Kelly left the Banks's Stadium yesterday to join Championship side Brentford.

The news has been met with dismay by the majority of Saddlers supporters who, after an impressive start to the season, had hoped Smith would stay to mastermind their push for the Championship.

And in a poll on the Express & Star website, a staggering 66 per cent of fans said they now believe Walsall will remain in League One for the 2016/17 season.

A third, though, are refusing to have their dreams dashed with 25 per cent still confident the Saddlers will finish in the play-offs and nine per cent predicting a top-two finish.

Smith and O'Kelly were in the crowd last night to watch their new side in action against Bolton at the Macron Stadium.

But tonight the Saddlers begin life without their old management team when they head to Greenhous Meadow to take on rivals Shrewsbury.

Coaches John Ward, Jon Whitney and Neil Cutler will be in charge of team affairs for a game that could see Walsall return to the top of League One.

And in another surprise twist, reports emerged last night that Salop boss Micky Mellon could be one of the names in the frame to replace Smith at the Banks's.

Current development coach Ward is the early favourite with bookmakers but it's Wolverhampton-born Sean O'Driscoll who is the man being talked about by Walsall fans thanks to the impressive job he did guiding Doncaster into the Championship.

[youtube title="Walsall FC fans react to Dean Smith's departure"][/youtube]

Mark Cooper, Chris Powell and Paul Tisdale were other names mentioned, while in another bizarre move, the official Walsall Twitter account sent a blank tweet to an unverified account apparently belonging to Ian Holloway last night. That tweet was swiftly deleted.

Former Villa boss Tim Sherwood and current skipper Adam Chambers are also viewed as outsiders for the managerial vacancy.

As well as their impressive form this season, Smith guided Walsall to a first-ever Wembley appearance back in March, with his side eventually losing 2-0 to Bristol City in the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

[youtube] [/youtube]

That success led to a number of admiring glances, with Championship strugglers Rotherham making an approach to speak to him back in October.

The move was quickly rebuffed by the Saddlers board with Smith subsequently signing a new 12-month rolling contract. But a club statement confirmed yesterday that the manager's new deal included a clause that would allow Smith to speak to interested parties.

"After rebuffing interest from a Championship club last month, the Saddlers successfully agreed a new 12-month rolling contract with Dean," the statement said.

"However, at the time of signing he requested assurances from the club that he would be given the opportunity to speak to any interested parties regarding any future job opportunities should they arise."

Brentford are believed to have targeted Smith after a move for Swansea assistant manager Pep Clotet collapsed last week.

And the Walsall club statement confirmed the Bees made their approach in the build-up to Saturday's 2-1 win over Bradford.

"After an approach from Brentford ahead of our game against Bradford City on Saturday – Dean indicated his desire to speak to the Championship outfit," it read.

"Talks were concluded swiftly and he indicated his desire to leave the Banks's Stadium to take up the reins at Griffin Park.

"A compensation package for Dean and Richard has been agreed and the pair leave with immediate effect."