Walker on Walsall's Great Escape

Walsall goalkeeper Jimmy Walker has insisted the Saddlers' Great Escape vindicated his shock return.

The club clinched League One survival by a point on Saturday and Walker revealed his pride in helping the club beat the drop.

The 37-year-old, who is second in the Saddlers' all-time appearance list with 505, returned to the club last October after six years.

Walker was coaching at Tottenham after a spell as a player at White Hart Lane but revealed his desire to save the Saddlers drove him on.

He said: "I could have sat there and been a back-up keeper somewhere, but I thrive on these situations.

"You're in football for days like this and to do it with Walsall means a lot to me.

"It's a great feeling and I am so pleased for everyone connected to the club. When I came back here I just wanted to do my best and help us move up the table. We've done that and it's so special.

"It's why we are in this game and you have to savour these moments."

Walker insisted the belief in the squad never wavered – despite being eight points from the safety line in January.

He said: "This is a fantastic achievement. We looked down and out in January, but we've dug in and showed great character.

"I'm obviously disappointed about Saturday's result and conceding three goals hurt as it always does, but we can't take anything away from what we have achieved.

"We didn't start the game well, to be fair, but the gaffer showed that he wasn't afraid to change things around and we got back into the game.

"Now we can look forward to playing at a decent standard next season."