Darren Wrack's hope for Walsall boss

Former Walsall ace Darren Wrack has admitted only manager Chris Hutchings knows his fate - and everyone else is in the dark.

The Saddlers go to Fleetwood in the FA Cup first round tomorrow and defeat could end Hutchings' 22-month reign at the Banks's Stadium.

But the former midfielder wants the beleaguered boss and assistant Martin O'Connor to stay despite a disastrous run of form.

Hutchings and O'Connor are under intense pressure after 10 defeats from 15 League One games have left the Saddlers bottom.

Wrack, who made 383 appearances for the Saddlers in 10 years, scored in the Saddlers' most recent cup upset - a 2-1 first round defeat at Slough in 2004 - and knows his old club need a result tomorrow.

The board have remained silent on the management duo's futures and Wrack, who played with O'Connor at the Banks's Stadium between 2002 and 2003, admitted no-one has a clue what could happen if Walsall lost.

He said: "I wouldn't like to see Chris or Martin out of a job but the only people who know how much pressure they are under are the management themselves.

"We all hear managers get the vote of confidence but you don't know what's going on behind the scenes.

"If they lose, who knows what's going to happen? They're not in the greatest position but there's no need to panic.

"If someone comes in would it change? There are lots of questions which need to be answered. At the moment they are in the job and if they get a result I hope they get a chance to turn it around.

"The league has got stronger and it makes it harder and they have to be competitive week in, week out.

"The club needs realistic aims and maybe the fans need to be a bit more realistic, I would love the club to get promoted but is that a realistic aim?"

Defeat at the Highbury Stadium tomorrow would push the management team closer to the edge after 22 months in charge.

With Fleetwood sixth in the Blue Square Premier, Wrack admitted the game has the ingredients of an upset, after he was dumped out by Slough six years ago.

He said: "Fleetwood know Walsall's situation and they will be looking to put a nail in the coffin. It will be difficult going there and getting something.

"We weren't on a great run of form when we went to Slough and we lost. When you're a professional you can sometimes think you'll turn up and win but it's not like that now.

"Fleetwood are in the Conference and Conference teams can't be underestimated now. Everyone is well aware of how the games can go.

"It's about getting the result, not the performance."

Former Albion defender Sean Gregan - on loan at Highbury from Oldham - will line up against Saddlers tomorrow.

Ex-Villa left-back Alan Wright is also likely to start under boss Micky Mellon, who made 57 appearances for Albion between 1993 and 1994, and helped them win promotion from the old Division Two.