Success of big four hampers Walsall

Walsall manager Chris Hutchings has admitted the success of the West Midlands' 'big four' has made the club's bid to boost flagging attendances even harder.

Villa, Birmingham, Wolves and Albion will all be able to offer fans from these parts the indulgence of top-flight football next season for the first time since 1984.

But the Saddlers were second bottom of the League One attendance table last season, despite securing their best finish in six years by finishing 10th.

Hutchings concedes it is "very difficult" to compete.

He said: "The only disappointing thing is that we are second from bottom of the attendance league. We can't do anything about that.

"There are four clubs on the doorstep – all massive, all in the highest division. It's very difficult to pick floaters up from there.

"It's never been an established Championship side, let's not kid ourselves. That's fact. It was there for three years but not an established Championship side.

"I think sometimes people expect too much. We all want to be successful.

"Many, many teams like ourselves have those ambitions but sometimes you can't get what you want."