Chief executive's defence of the boss

Walsall chief executive Roy Whalley has launched a vigorous defence of Chris Hutchings after the manager came under fire from a section of supporters.

The Saddlers' supremo was left angry after a brief protest against chairman Jeff Bonser and Hutchings ahead of Monday's 2-1 home win over Wycombe.

The club have won just six of their last 22 games in League One, a run which has seen them fall out of play-off contention and end the season prematurely.

But Whalley insists the protest against was out of order as the manager and assistant Martin O'Connor have worked wonders in his eyes this season.

He said: "For a banner to come out like that is totally unacceptable. The size of the crowd affects the size of your budget and for him and Martin to take us through the season where we have not been involved in a relegation battle is a considerable achievement.

"They are great professionals and they work as hard as anyone. I think we're punching above our weight and have done incredibly well this season."

The club sit 13th in League One, the same position as when Hutchings took charge last January, but have an average attendance of 4,029 - the second worst in the division.

Only Hartlepool have a smaller gate and Whalley believes fans must understand their support is vital to the club's success.

He said: "In football the size of the crowd dictates, to an extent, of how far you can go. Look at Southend, when we went there they had 6,000 fans. Stockport are a similar sized club to us and they are going to go down.

"We are in mid-table in League One, but look at some of the clubs we have to compete with."

Whalley also moved to remind fans the chairman's investment 20 years ago kept the club afloat and if it wasn't for his continued funding the Saddlers would struggle.

The chief executive said: "If Jeff had not done what he did in 1991 there would not be a Walsall Football Club. The chairman has offered to step down if the right man with the club's best interests at heart comes in. He is not staying at the club for the sake of it.

"He has £1.5million in loans in the club. If that was not available and without his backing there would not be a club."

The Saddlers have sold 1,600 early bird season tickets for next year and, although slightly down on last season, Whalley is happy with that support.

He said: "In a difficult financial climate we're on about 90 percent of where we were last season, so we're very happy and like to thank those fans for signing up."