Express & Star

Chris Marsh: Walsall must still believe

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Club legend Chris Marsh has told Walsall's players to return to pre-season training believing it's their time to win promotion.

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The Saddlers came within a whisker of clinching a place in the Championship last season as Jon Whitney's side finished third in League One before losing in the play-offs to Barnsley.

Marsh won promotion three times in his Walsall career as the versatile star made more than 470 appearances over a 13-year period.

But while he enjoyed huge success, he was also no stranger to adversity and was part of the team that suffered relegation from English football's second tier in the 1999/2000 campaign. And he said that experience, under the guidance of manager Ray Graydon, taught him how important it is to leave disappointment firmly in the past.

"It's absolutely vital the lads come back believing next year they are going to go one better," Marsh said. "There is no reason why they can't. If they keep the majority of the squad together, then they are a top six side in League One without doubt.

"When we were relegated, Ray was excellent. He restored belief in everyone.

"He told us to go away, have a good break and a good rest. Then once we got back it was full steam ahead.

"When we returned we all knew what the aim was and Ray was superb at boosting us up so we believed we could do it. That belief was vital and now the current lads need to enjoy their break and return believing they are going to be successful."

Marsh ended up leaving the Saddlers to join Wycombe just before promotion was confirmed in 2001.

But he said it was in pre-season that he knew Graydon's men would be competing at the top of the table, with Walsall impressing in their friendlies.

"After relegation it was important for us to get back to winning ways again and it will also be good for this group to be winning once again," he said. "Start positive, start on the front foot and get that momentum as quickly as you can."