Dean Smith unfazed by Banks's sale

Walsall manager Dean Smith has insisted the Saddlers' survival bid will not be derailed by the uncertainty surrounding the Banks's Stadium.

The ground was put up for sale yesterday by landlords Suffolk Life, who want to cash in on the freehold.

On the pitch, the Saddlers are embroiled in a titanic relegation scrap at the foot of League One and sit fourth-from-bottom.

But Smith is adamant it won't upset their hopes ahead of Saturday's crunch visit of Hartlepool.

He said: "The only thing we want to focus on is the Hartlepool game. There's nothing for the players or myself to worry about.

"The players won't be worried about it. They are employees of the club and the freehold is nothing to do with them. They'll get on with things.

"I have been filled in by the chairman Jeff Bonser and chief executive Stef Gamble and I've known what's been going on, but it doesn't affect what we do.

"It's just business as usual."

Suffolk Life are yet to reveal the asking price for the freehold and have employed property agents DTZ to sell the site.

The Saddlers issued a statement yesterday and insisted the sale of the ground will not affect the running of the club.

And Smith remains confident the Saddlers can win their survival fight.

He said: "We might have only won one in five - but we've only lost one in five.

"My glass is half-full."

But Smith revealed he laid down the law following Saturday's 1-1 draw at Yeovil after the Saddlers were lucky to escape with a point.

He said: "We've spoken about it. The players know the performance was not great but they know what they have to do to put it right.

"It wasn't a great game but it was a point gained, we caught up on some of the teams above us."

Meanwhile, chairman Bonser has declined to comment on the sale of the Banks's freehold.