Stefan Gamble wants to build bridges

Chief executive Stefan Gamble has moved to repair the shattered relationship between Walsall's disillusioned fans and the club.

Gamble has drawn a line under a few turbulent months after the Saddlers were criticised for failing to communicate with supporters.

Fans openly hit out at the board for their silence as they sunk to the bottom of League One, with manager Chris Hutchings coming under mounting pressure.

Walsall are still bottom - seven points from safety - but take a welcome break from the league with an FA Cup second round trip to Torquay tomorrow.

Two wins and an improved display despite a 3-0 defeat at Sheffield Wednesday have lifted the mood in the last week.

But the Saddlers' off the pitch silence had dominated terrace talk and, after meeting with new supporters' group Unity on Wednesday, they are taking steps to address it.

Gamble, who replaced Roy Whalley as CEO in July, had pledged to reconnect with the club's fanbase when he was appointed and recognised they could have been more proactive in addressing their supporters.

He said: "We've had a difficult time over the last couple of months and everyone has been working hard behind the scenes - but sometimes we haven't spoken about it enough.

"Hindsight is a wonderful thing but we want to move forward. It's important to sit down with groups like Unity as we're all working towards the same thing, a better football club.

"It's important to sit down, listen and work out how to improve relationships."

Unity echoed Gamble's positive sentiments but insisted they still plan to release 2,000 balloons before the home game with Southampton on December 18, to symbolise the fans the club have lost.

A statement read: "Following a constructive first meeting with senior Walsall Football Club officials, the Unity supporters group is looking forward to a productive ongoing relationship between both parties.

"Having secured a commitment to ongoing dialogue via bi-monthly meetings, Unity is also pleased to announce the reinstatement of 'Fans Focus' meetings at the Banks's Stadium, with dates to be announced soon."

Those Saddlers fans are set for a 368-mile round trip to Torquay tomorrow as Walsall take on the League Two play-off hopefuls.

Reuben Reid and Jonathan Macken are out with respective hamstring and calf injuries, meaning Will Grigg could be handed his first career start.

Martin Devaney may be available after a hamstring strain to allow Alex Nicholls to move up front, but the Barnsley loanee hasn't played for three weeks and is struggling for match fitness.

Torquay successfully rebuffed a bid from Swindon for 10-goal top scorer Elliot Benyon before the loan deadline closed yesterday, although the striker is suspended tomorrow.

Wolves' loanee Ashley Hemmings is, however, set to start.

The winners go into the third round and could land a money-spinning tie with a Premier League side ,but Walsall boss Hutchings is only focused on the task in hand.

He said: "They had a good win over Wycombe in midweek and will be on their home patch, they will fancy their chances and there is a big carrot because of the bigger teams coming in next.

"I am sure every team will be saying the same, 'get through this round and you could get a plum draw.' The main carrot is getting through but what will be, will be.

"If we don't get a big one we'll think we'll have a great chance to get through to the next round, but we've got to get past Torquay first."

By Nick Mashiter