Jon Whitney keeping calm with Walsall
Boss Jon Whitney insists his experiences as both a player and physio are helping him keep calm in Walsall's push for promotion.
He's hugely popular among Saddlers supporters for his enthusiastic and passionate personality. which has helped keep his side in the race for the Championship.
In the past, that enthusiasm has got the 45-year-old interim head coach into trouble, with the retired defender receiving two bans while he was employed as the club's physio.
But he insists the days when he was in trouble with the Football Association are now firmly behind him.
He joked: "I got banned twice because the fourth official misheard something I said. But that's not going to happen now, I'm more logical.
"Sometimes with the FA, you can't win. It's not always fair but I have learned from my mistakes.
"I have been quite frustrated in the past but now I can have a big influence on what we do day to day. Now I can control quite a bit."
Despite being new to management, Whitney isn't surprised by the challenges he faces. He added: "It's what I expected.
"I have been with a lot of managers and played under a lot of managers and been around the game for over 20 years now.
"There's not much I haven't seen. Things have just changed with the way you approach and analyse them and your reactions emotionally have to change.
"Gone are the days when you can be in people's faces and be an emotional coach.
"You have to channel your emotions now because players have changed and mindsets have changed and man-management is a really important part of the game.
"Those who can man-manage are really successful."
