The Big Interview: Dean Smith - just a taste
Ahead of Walsall's big day out at Wembley, manager Dean Smith sat down to talk about his life in football.
The Saddlers boss was in rum form, covering subjects a varied as his memories of growing up in Great Barr to his pride at becoming the first Walsall boss to take the club to Wembley.
You can read the interview in full in the Weekend Edition of the Express & Star but, as a taster, here are some of his best quotes.
Dean on life before football: "I think going to work and earning money made me realise you have to work hard to get anything in this life."
On signing for Walsall aged 16: "I remember it well. I went from earning £19 a week to £27.50!"
On being sold to Hereford for £75,000: "The chairman still talks about it to this day. He tells me, 'selling you helped save the club!'"
On moving to London: "It was an eye-opener. It took us six months to get to know the neighbours."
On retiring as a player: "I came to the conclusion I could keep chasing contracts or get on the first rung of the coaching ladder. It is the best decision I ever made."
On being sacked at Leyton Orient: "It went down as mutual consent. But I don't remember consenting to anything."
On becoming Walsall's caretaker boss: "The chairman said he wanted me to take over as caretaker. I said 'I thought you might say that'.
"He said: 'why?' and I replied: 'because I'm the only coach you've got left!"
On his management style: "I ask myself the question, before I do anything, what would you have wanted as a player, as a person?
"I try to do it that way and I think you get more back from people by doing it that way."
On why he'll never let hype go to his head: "I will get put straight in my place because there are so many people who know who I am and what I'm about.
"I've always known where my roots are and what my values are."
