Walsall warned on manager decision

Assistant boss Martin O'Connor today urged Walsall not to be hasty over manager Chris Hutchings' future.

The Saddlers face a tricky FA Cup replay at home to Fleetwood tonight with boss Hutchings and O'Connor under extreme pressure.

The team are bottom of League One, eight points from safety, ahead of tonight's do-or-die tie.

Defeat could signal the end of Hutchings' 22-month reign but O'Connor wants the club's board to take their time.

He said: "In any walk of life if you go into a new job you don't expect to be successful straight away.

"If you are sometimes in the second or third year you hit a dip. That's the nature of the beast unfortunately.

"When clubs, managers and players don't get results there are changes to be made at times.

"But, on the whole, looking back there are clubs who kept faith with everyone involved and things turned.

"I've not noticed any pressure from the club, we put pressure on ourselves because we're winners.

"We don't feel hard done by because our league position doesn't lie, but the only way we can turn the corner and change the fans' opinions is to perform.

"I'm not the type of person to hide and crawl under a rock - it's not about that.

"It's about sticking to your principles, being brave, going about your normal duties and working hard."

The team and management were abused as they left Bournemouth following Saturday's 3-0 defeat and will face a ferocious backlash should they lose tonight.

But O'Connor defended the fans and insisted they have a right to criticise the team after just one win in 15 games.

He said: "We're not going to lambast fans or have a pop at them for their views and opinions, because all we can do is do our best and perform.

"When you are doing well and you get the plaudits, you don't turn round and say you don't want them. When you're not doing so well then you can't switch off and say you don't want the criticism. We are a football club and we're in a results business.

"You get views and I'm not going to turn away from people giving me their opinion, because it would be ignorant and it's not me."