Honesty culture at Walsall welcomed by Saddlers skipper Andy Butler
Walsall captain Andy Butler has welcomed the culture of honesty and insisted every player must have their say.
Walsall captain Andy Butler has welcomed the culture of honesty and insisted every player must have their say.
The skipper believes it's time for the Saddlers to make themselves heard if they are going to win their League One relegation battle.
They go to Stevenage tomorrow after a morale-boosting 3-2 extra-time FA Cup win over Exeter on Wednesday.
It was just their second win in 16 games in all competitions during a run which has plunged them into the drop zone.
They are two points from safety – behind Exeter – and in desperate need of a change in league fortunes.
And Butler insisted they have run out of excuses and cannot blame anyone else but themselves.
He said: "There are no more sob stories. We're all men at this club and we're all going to have our say and it's up to us to help each other get out of the situation.
"We all know what we have to do and the gaffer is telling us that too. The lads were disappointed from losing the Bury game but we are all men – we can all take it and give it so we move on.
"The table doesn't lie and it's up to us to get the points on the board. We can't always say the performances are good but the results aren't, so if it takes an ugly win, it takes an ugly win to get us up there."
Butler has been pleased with the reaction of his team-mates and insisted he isn't the only motivator, despite being skipper.
He said: "Everyone gives a little bit, it's not all me. They are all good characters and all bubbly, the performances haven't been too bad and it's just been the results.
"It's up to us to pick each other up and drive each other on. It's a team game and that's what we need to do.
"The second goal on Wednesday was a deflection and our heads could have dropped but they didn't.
"That shows there s a lot of character and it's hopefully going to spur us on."
The Cup win was watched by ex-Saddlers striker Richard O'Kelly who has been recruited by boss Dean Smith as a temporary coach.
The former Doncaster assistant manager made 254 appearances for the Saddlers, scoring 65 goals, and was part of the famous team who lost to Liverpool in the Milk Cup semi-final in 1983-84.
O'Kelly has been out of work since being sacked, with Wolverhampton-born boss Sean O'Driscoll, by Doncaster in September and Butler is pleased with his impact.
Butler said: "He's brought his own ideas. The gaffer wants to watch us train instead of taking it all the time and it's worked so far.
"I didn't know him but he's a good lad and the players have taken to him well and hopefully it pays off.
"He's brought in what he wants to do and training is a little bit different so, hopefully, it will come good."
O'Kelly is likely to be on the bench again for tomorrow's game with the Saddlers without Kevan Hurst and Darryl Westlake, who have heel and ankle injuries respectively.
