Express & Star

Chris Marsh: Give Dean Keates time to shine at Walsall

Club legend Chris Marsh has welcomed the appointment of Dean Keates as Walsall boss – but has urged fans to remain patient with their new manager.

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Keates was officially confirmed as the new Saddlers chief on Friday after the club agreed a compensation package with Wrexham.

The 39-year-old, who is from Beechdale, made more than 200 playing appearances for Walsall and won three promotions in his two separate stints with the club.

Now manager, his first task is to keep Walsall in League One this season.

But Marsh believes Keates will quickly get the wins Walsall need before he then starts to plot long-term success.

"I'm absolutely delighted Dean Keates is Walsall manager," he said.

"For me, there were two outstanding candidates in Keates and Adrian Viveash and I'm so pleased the board has gone out and got one of them.

"It needed someone with an affinity for the club. It needed a former hero to come back.

"And Keatesy did a fantastic job at Wrexham. He is a talented, up and coming manager and his clean sheet record at Wrexham was outstanding.

"He needs to get these two or three wins to keep Walsall up, which I'm sure he will do very quickly.

"And then hopefully we can all look forward to a really bright future."

Marsh was delighted to see Walsall agree a compensation package to land Keates – with the deal the first time the club has paid money to secure a manager under owner Jeff Bonser.

"It shows Walsall are moving with the times," Marsh continued.

"I was shocked but they have done the right thing. They have identified their number one target and they have gone out and got him.

"Now Keatsy needs time. He is a smashing lad. The club means the world to him.

"And he has been given a three-and-a-half year deal because this is now the start of a project.

"The defence he built at Wrexham was so strong and he is going to want to do the same at Walsall.

"But that takes time so the fans are going to have to be patient.

"I honestly believe though this is a great appointment. We're moving onwards and upwards."