Walsall delighted to keep Dean Holden

Boss Jon Whitney has expressed his delight at keeping Dean Holden on his staff after revealing the coach turned down other offers to stay at Walsall.

Saddlers favourite Holden returned to the Banks's Stadium in March to help assist Whitney following the sacking of Sean O'Driscoll.

And after forming a close-knit bond with fellow coaches Neil Cutler and John Ward, Whitney believes it was vital they kept the former centre-back at the club.

He said: "It's very good news we have kept Dean. Dean was an associate before he came in – now I would like to class him as a friend.

"People talk about friends in football but the truth is they are few and far between. I think I have a good friendship with Dean now.

"He had offers, some really good offers from other clubs. For him to want to come here and be part of it gives me quite a bit of pride, that he sees in me I can help him develop.

"The mutual respect we have here with John and Neil too. It is a really good staff we have got but the biggest thing is the message we send out is really good.

"It is a really strong, close knit group. There are no chinks in the armour of the staff, we are properly united. I think players will see that and want to come on board."

Whitney's path to becoming Saddlers boss has been well documented, with the 45-year-old spending almost 10 years as the club's physio and head of medicine before stepping up to become assistant boss.

And while the tag of being a physio can be difficult to shake, Whitney insists he isn't concerned by it. The boss joked: "You never know, I might have to become a physio again soon!

"It's nice to have a few strings to my bow. Some call me a life coach. I have been assistant manager, manager. I have got a strong CV.

"It doesn't bother one bit. The jobs I have done in the past have made me the person I am today. Criticism doesn't bother me and I've been called many things over the course of my career.

"I'm just looking forward to the challenge that lays ahead. No matter what my title is, the biggest thing for me is to enjoy every day."