Ray Graydon issues Walsall battle cry

Walsall legend Ray Graydon has issued a Saddlers battle cry and urged supporters not to start "baying for blood."

The Saddlers and boss Chris Hutchings face a make or break visit of Exeter tomorrow, with the pressure building after a disastrous start to the season.

They are winless in eight games in all competitions and have sunk to the bottom of League One, following just two wins from their opening 10 matches.

But Graydon, dubbed 'Sir Ray' by fans after two promotions in 1999 and 2001, has urged his former faithful to back the team and the manager.

He said: "If people go to the game and, as soon as something goes wrong, start baying for blood it will only increase the problems for everyone.

"It's easy to start making excuses and blaming everyone but the hard bit is sticking together.

"They must support the team. If they have problems then do it after the game, not during it. They have to dig in and help everyone through the difficult times.

"If I can give a message to everyone it would be, regardless of disappointments of results and what has happened on the field, to get behind the team.

"If they do it will be an aid but if they don't it will only make things worse."

Graydon was sacked by chairman Jeff Bonser in 2002 but holds the Saddlers close to his heart, following his hugely successful spell where he twice led the club to the Championship.

The 63-year-old, who has been working as a referee's assessor, still has affection for the club he managed for four years.

He said: "It's always the first result I look for. I feel concerned for everyone there. I feel concerned for the supporters first of all, they will be disappointed things aren't going well.

"But what I know is everyone will be working flat out to make it work, from Jeff and Chris downwards.

"It's not a great place to be when you're around the bottom and these are tough times for any manager but you have to keep believing in what you're doing.

"I can't say I haven't thought about their position. It's not something anyone wants to see, even from a distance, and I wish they weren't there.

"These things happen but managers, players and everyone need to stick together."