Jon Whitney's call for everybody to unite
Interim head coach Jon Whitney has called for everyone at Walsall to pull together as he attempts to revive their promotion push.
The 45-year-old has been placed in charge of first-team affairs at the Banks's Stadium following Sean O'Driscoll's sacking and will be given the chance to stake his claim for the permanent position.
Despite a run of six games without a win, the Saddlers remain well positioned – fourth in League One, just five points adrift of the automatic promotion places with a game in hand.
And Whitney, who will be assisted by John Ward and Neil Cutler, has called for unity as they look to get back on track.
"We have to have a collective effort," he said. "It is not all going to go to plan, there will be mistakes made, from myself as well, but those mistakes will be made trying to do the right things.
"If we can keep to that basis, that ethos, then we will just see if the energy we produce will hopefully see us over the line.
"We have to take each game and we have to concentrate on performance.
"Let's try to turn mistakes into a positive reaction. If we can do that we will be OK."
Previously the club's physio, Whitney impressed in a caretaker role following Dean Smith's departure in November, becoming assistant head coach when O'Driscoll was appointed the following month.
Though the latter was axed on Sunday after just 11 weeks in charge, Whitney is confident the players can cope with yet another managerial change.
"We will play with an energy, an enthusiasm and a smile on our face," he said. "The knock-on of that is the fans will have smile on their face."
