Walsall to meet with unhappy fans

Walsall are ready for talks with their unhappy fans after announcing a focus meeting.

The Saddlers will hold a sit down on Monday January 17, after a turbulent season which saw manager Chris Hutchings sacked on Tuesday.

The club are bottom of League One and eight points from safety following a 4-1 thumping at Peterborough.

It led to an outpouring of anger against the manager, as supporters bombarded chief executive Stefan Gamble with e-mails venting their frustrations.

But the club have reacted positively and are willing to sit down and listen to their fans.

They had been criticised for a lack of communication, with Gamble and chairman Jeff Bonser singled out.

Yesterday, club legend Chris Marsh urged the Saddlers to talk to supporters and fans will hope it is the start of a new beginning now Hutchings and assistant Martin O'Connor have been dismissed.

The pair were sacked on Tuesday following just four wins in 22 games, with head of youth Dean Smith placed in temporary charge ahead of Saturday's crunch trip to Tranmere.

Walsall could have a new manager in place by the focus group with Neil McDonald, Chris Turner, Martin Allen and Bobby Davison all linked to the post.

The club had hoped to hold the meeting last month but with the AGM not scheduled until Monday and the postponement of several first team fixtures, because of bad weather, they had to delay it.

The meeting will start in the Swifts Club on Monday January 17 at 6pm and is open to all supporters.