Chris Marsh hails Dean Smith's deal

Walsall legend Chris Marsh has hailed Dean Smith for ditching his comfort zone after the manager penned a new two-year contract.

The Saddlers boss has committed his future to the club until the summer of 2013, after impressing since taking over from Chris Hutchings in January.

Smith left his role as the Saddlers' head of youth after initially being handed the job until the end of the season.

The 40-year-old has given them fresh hope of avoiding the drop after they were eight points adrift at the start of the year.

They are now fourth bottom of League One and still a point below the safety line but Marsh, who played with Smith between 1989 and 1994, has praised his former team-mate for taking the plunge.

He said: "Chris had a job for life in the youth set-up. Managers would have come and gone but he would have stayed in the role, yet he's given up that security to take a difficult job.

"We all know Walsall's a difficult one because of the finances. He has a nice family and he has to support them, but he's decided to give it a go and he should be applauded for that.

"It's a statement from the club and it will help the players and Dean. You can't make your mark in a year."

Smith recruited former boss Chris Nicholl as an adviser to work with him and promoted Jon Whitney from physio to No 2.

And Marsh, who made 479 appearances for Walsall, reckons Nicholl's influence has been key in their survival bid.

He said: "Dean was a defender and when he has Chris Nicholl helping out you can't say any more.

"Chris' ideal result was 1-0, if you won 5-1 he'd go mad, and maybe his mentality has worked.

"When a new manager comes in he lifts you. Players lift their game because their futures are on the line and it usually lasts for five or six games but Dean has continued it."