Walsall are setting training day standard

The former Rotherham, Shrewsbury and Burton Albion defender joined the Saddlers as first-team coach last month after Dean Holden left to become assistant manager at Bristol City.

Sharps previously enjoyed a brief spell training with Walsall while he was playing for AFC Telford at the start of 2015.

And he now admits he is delighted to be part of the coaching set-up at the Banks's Stadium – with the 36-year-old regarding the club as one of the most innovative in the country.

"I think this club does things a lot differently when compared to other clubs," he said. "I first noticed it last year when my playing career was coming to an end.

"I got inured at Burton and never got back into the team. Telford came in for me but they were part-time and only trained two evenings a week.

"So I gave Neil Cutler (coach) a call and asked him if I could come in here on a voluntary basis.

"Dean (Smith) and Richard (O'Kelly) were more then welcoming and I got to shadow Rich for three months which was a great experience for me.

"It was great to look at their methods. From the training to the prep to the recovery, this club is miles ahead of other clubs.

"It was a real eye opener for me and I learnt a lot.

"Now it's brilliant to be a part of it."

Sharps is now enjoying working alongside boss Jon Whitney and hopes his influence on the team will continue to grow as the season progresses.

"With the amount of games we have played, we haven't had as much training so I haven't been able to influence things as much as I would have liked," he continued.

"But the more we go on I'd like to think I can help out the club, help out the lads and they can help me as well.

"They are inviting bunch and I have got to know everyone quickly. Everyone works well as a group. Jon, Neil and myself – we are in early. We talk and everyone gets to have their input.

"We are here to question what everyone does. That makes conversation, it makes debate and it's healthy. And at the end of it we hope we come out with the right decisions."

A commanding centre-back in his playing days, Sharps admits he takes a lot satisfaction from Walsall having kept back-to-back clean sheets in their last two outings against Southend and Sheffield United.

And now the coach is targeting a third when the Saddlers return to League One action against Fleetwood on Saturday.

"We can take confidence from the trip to Sheffield United and also the Southend game as well because it's two games and two clean sheets," Sharps added.

"Now we are looking for a third. Fleetwood won't be an easy game and we'll have to go there and perform.

"But we have shown recently what we are capable of, particularly in the win over Sheffield United.

"It was brilliant to see the blocks and the tackles going in and that willingness to get back and defend.

"We went to Sheffield United, not played as well as we can but have won the game. That is a big positive because there is plenty for us to improve on."