Express & Star

Ambitious Dean Keates is aiming high at Walsall

Dean Keates says promotion to the Championship has to be his ultimate goal as Walsall boss.

Published
Last updated

The 39-year-old met with the media for the first time yesterday since replacing the sacked Jon Whitney in the Banks’s dugout.

With Saddlers just five points above the relegation zone, Keates says his first task is to make sure the team retains its League One status for next season.

But after signing a three-year deal, the boss confirmed the ultimate aim is to get Walsall into the Championship.

“Obviously the short-term aim is to make sure we are still a League One team,” Keates said. “There are nine games left and we have to make sure we get to that 52-point cut-off.

“The medium term is to start looking to put things in to place to take the football club forward. And the long-term goal, for me, is to get ourselves established in the top half of the table and push on from there, looking for promotion back into the Championship.

“It’s a long way off and we’ve got a short-term plan to aim at first. , but, eventually, I’d like to think I can put things in place to put the club back to where I think it, and the town, deserves to be.”

Keates says Walsall have the potential to be an established Championship club.

“I know what this football club is about,” he continued.

“I had great years as a player and we achieved getting into the championship.

“I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that in the long-term.

“The aim is to get the club back there and establish ourselves there.”

Meanwhile, Keates confirmed he is happy to continue to work with coach Ian Sharps.

Sharps was brought into the club to be part of Whitney’s back-room team.

But while he will remain at the club under Keates, the new boss has also been given assurances by the board he will be backed financially if he wants to bring in his own coaches.

“I’m working with Sharpy (Sharps), Keates added. “I have only ever played against him. It’s a new relationship we are getting to know each other. We sat in the car together and travelled up to Oldham to watch that game. It’s still early days.”