Walsall manager rules out new No 2

Walsall boss Dean Smith has ruled out bringing in a new assistant and insisted he will stick with his Saddlers dream team.

The manager will not look for any more staff and will keep faith with Chris Nicholl and Jon Whitney after last season's heroics.

Whitney has confirmed he will step down from official assistant duties to focus on his physio role – which left questions over the make-up of the management team.

But Smith insists the dynamic of the trio will not change with adviser Nicholl and Whitney continuing their supporting roles.

The Saddlers boss said: "I don't really want to go to go down the road in getting a number two. I liked how it worked last year with me Jon, Chris and I will try to keep us together as a backroom team.

"I'm not into these names of No 2, coach and first-team manager. As long as I've got a good backroom team supporting me I'm happy."

The trio inspired the Saddlers' Great Escape in League One last term, along with goalkeeping coach Mick Kearns.

But Smith ruled out Nicholl becoming his official assistant, despite the former manager's successful return to the club as his advisor last season.