Walsall chief urges fans to return
Walsall chief executive Roy Whalley has urged stayaway fans to return to the Banks's Stadium for the Swindon match and help boost manager Chris Hutchings' transfer budget.
And the Saddlers supremo warned they won't be able to sign players if crowds don't improve, starting tomorrow.
Their last home League One outing against Gillingham three weeks ago, saw a crowd of just 3,331 – the lowest league attendance at the Banks's for 11 years.
The club have other areas of income, but Whalley insists the fans need to help boost their transfer budget.
He said: "If the crowd is down then we have to downscale our ambitions. The town has to decide whether they want a club or not. The answer is in their hands.
"You can't divorce the two and have to accept the financial reality, but we will not let this club slide into financial oblivion.
"How far Walsall can progress will depend on how many people come through the turnstiles.
"There are a lot of Football League clubs who are struggling for survival and it's difficult, but we have to be realistic."
Whalley conceded fans are unhappy with the club under chairman Jeff Bonser, but admitted there were no offers on the table.
He said: "The board will not gamble with the club's future, although that may not be what the fans want to hear.
"The chairman has made it clear he would sell the club, for the right reasons. He would sell to a group or an individual, preferably local, but there are no offers."
But Whalley is still confident of a successful season under Hutchings, insisting the infrastructure of the club is there.
He said: "There are really good things happening and it will be an exciting season.
"We have transformed the club over the last 20 years and all the bits and pieces are in place.
"We've got a good youth development programme and the club has every right to aspire to get back to the Championship."
Fans can buy tickets for tomorrow's game and the next home match against Huddersfield on Tuesday September 29 in unison, saving up to £10.
