Darren Byfield earmarks key change for Walsall to be successful

Darren Byfield insists Walsall need to have a “winning instinct” drummed into them - whether he is in charge or not next season.

Walsall face an eighth successive season in League Two next term, after blowing yet another promotion charge despite sitting top at Christmas.

Byfield took charge of the final 10 games as interim head coach following the departure of Mat Sadler in March and collected three wins, three draws and four defeats in total.

A 3-1 defeat at League Two champions Bromley on in the final fixture on Saturday condemned the Saddlers to a 13th-place finish and Byfield feels Walsall need to build a mentality to succeed through adversity.

On what needs to change for Walsall next

“Whether I’m here or not, the boys have to have that instinct, they have to have a winning mentality,” Byfield said.

“By any means, win the game. It’s not just about saying: ‘We played well but we didn’t win’. We’ve got to stop that.

“It’s got to be: ‘We stayed in the game, we suffered and we still won’.

“That’s how you win titles, that’s how you win automatic promotion and that’s how you get into the play-offs.

“We’ve got to instil that in the boys. Whether it’s me or somebody else, the main thing is that Walsall Football Club are in a good place come the start of the season.”

Walsall picked up just five wins from their last 21 league games this term, just a year on from blowing a 12-point lead at the summit in the previous campaign.

They also went on to succumb to a 1-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon in the League Two play-off final at Wembley and Byfield wants Walsall to believe that promotion is possible.

‘These guys need to know that Walsall should be higher’

He added: “Our whole mentality needs to change in terms of we have to make sure these guys know that Walsall should be higher.

“When you come in, you understand, we’re going for promotion. We’re not just going to see what happens.

“We’re going promotion and everyday it’s going to be drummed into you that that’s what we’re going to do.

“Whether you’re in a warm-up with [Jonathan] Fenners or in a small side game - you’re going to be the best that you can be.

“You’re not going to go through the motions. We’re going to set these standards and we’re going to drive it so we can get Walsall where they should be.”