Dean Smith's world tour hits Scotland
From Africa to the Caribbean – Walsall manager Dean Smith's world tour now hits Scotland.
From Africa to the Caribbean – Walsall manager Dean Smith's world tour now hits Scotland.
The Walsall boss, now firmly in situ at the team's training camp in Stirling, has seen more summers than he'd care to remember but acknowledges the importance of every one.
Smith took his troops to Scotland yesterday as he plots an assault on League One in his first full season in charge.
Those preparations step up a gear this week with games against Greenock Morton tomorrow and Gretna on Friday.
And Smith is determined to make the most of the time away knowing how pre-season has changed since he broke into the Saddlers' team at just 18.
He said: "My two months off was a holiday and I went round the world one year.
"I was speaking to Kyle Lightbourne the other day and, one year, I finished the season on the Saturday, jumped on the plane on the Monday and ended up at Kyle's wedding in Bermuda a couple of weeks before pre-season started.
"I wasn't married then but, the older you get, the more you realise you have to keep yourself in trim.
"The younger I was, the more fun I had and, the older I got, the less I holidayed and the fitter I kept myself.
"They are athletes now, not just footballers. You can't come back in a state because you end up playing catch-up with some of the lads who have kept in trim.
"I've said to the players already I'm not bothered about the five weeks' work as long as they are ready for August 6 and the start of the season against Leyton Orient.
"The main thing for me is we get the fitness work right and everyone's ready for August 6."
While it is the Saddlers' first tour north of the border since 2000, Smith is a veteran of the pre-season workout – even if not all worked out.
He said: "I went on a few – and a few strange ones as well. One being Uganda and another Antigua – and Scotland.
"Uganda was with Orient. I think it was through one of Barry Hearn's contacts.
"It didn't go down too well as we were meant to be there for two weeks, ended up doing a week and coming back.
"We had jabs, malaria tablets – the lot. Then the following year was Antigua which was a bit better!"
Stirling may not be as glamorous as the Caribbean but it serves the same purpose – although Smith is at pains to insist the trip will not guarantee early points.
He said: "Will it be worth a few points? Who knows? I have been away before when I was with Orient and we went to Ibiza and had a fantastic week – certainly the staff did!
"We played a couple of games and had a fantastic start to the season and were in the top two at Christmas. Yet I have also experienced the other way.
"I have lost every game in pre-season and then won the first four league games. have won every game in pre-season and lost the first two.
"Pre-season is just about getting the lads fit and ready for August 6."
The team is based at Stirling University – home of the Scottish Institute of Sport – and will be given the chance to sample the local culture but Smith insisted they are there to work.
He said: "The facilities are fantastic. It is a good place for all the players. There is a pitch and putt and there's all different stuff they can go and do.
"They can go mountain climbing if they want although I'm not sure many will – they can even go and see the William Wallace Memorial.
"But it's not a holiday – they are here to work as we have a couple of games.
"I'm looking forward to it and I believe Gleneagles Golf Course is about 15 miles away, so maybe I can talk Chris Nicholl into going there one morning."
