Darren Byfield outlines his Walsall frustration after mixed interim spell

Darren Byfield has admitted his only frustration is that he could “not have a few more weeks” to implement his ideas during his interim stint at Walsall.

The Walsall interim head coach has still bee unable to provide any clarity over his future following a precise split of three wins, three draws and three defeats from his nine games at the helm.

Byfield has switched from a 3-5-2 to a 4-3-3 since replacing Mat Sadler in the dugout in March, but has been unable to find consistency in results.

Byfield on his Walsall future

When asked what his future holds, Byfield explained: “I honestly don’t know. I think if you want to give yourself the best opportunity - you need to win games.

“We’ve played nine now: won three, drawn three, lost three.

“The frustration from my part is that you probably want a few more weeks with this group.”

Byfield took over following a run of two wins from 14 games in League Two under his predecessor Sadler, but results since have seen Walsall slump to midtable.

‘It’s a tough ask to change formation and style’

The biggest thing that Byfield feels needs to improve is mentality, although he still believes Walsall can achieve success within their current structure.

He added: “It’s a tough ask to change formation and change the style. The boys have done well but sometimes you look and think that’s not working.

“I look and I see what I have, and it’s just we need this and we need that. It’s asking more of them but still within the same structure that we’re doing.

“I don’t look at it and think we should’ve played with a three or a 4-4-2.

“Obviously when you’re chasing the game you can change [formation], but what I see is that we need a change of mindset, someone else doing this, someone doing that, and we can get this team going.”