Jon Whitney wants steel at Walsall

Boss Jon Whitney wants to install an 'old-school mentality' if he remains in charge of Walsall.

The 45-year-old is continuing to hold talks with chairman Jeff Bonser to determine his role for the 2016/17 campaign.

And if he does remain in charge, fans can expect to see a team with some added steel.

"I have got a mentality that I am starting to bring in and I want to get some old-school football back into the game," he said. "I want more steel and fight.

"We need to try to make sure we fight every team we play and that we have have players who will fight for Walsall football club.

"We are going to have to develop another team again but we have already got some youngsters coming through that are setting the training ground alight.

"Jordan Sangha, Kory Roberts, Milan Butterfield. It's about developing players and developing people – that is what we are about.

"But while it's important to be technical and tactical, I need to make sure they all have a bit of guile and will be ready when things become a battle."

After an outstanding League One season, Walsall were left humbled in the play-offs as they fell to a 6-1 aggregate defeat against Paul Heckingbottom's Barnsley.

And Whitney felt his team needed to show more desire in keeping the Tykes at bay.

"The margin of the defeat did hurt," he said.

"If I get beat 1-0 it hurts. I hate losing. But I have got a good win record because I always tried my best and gave everything I could.

"I couldn't fault the lads energy and application but I could fault some of the decision making and our willingness to keep the ball out of the net