Express & Star

Forward march at Walsall for Jon Whitney

Published
Last updated

Boss Jon Whitney has pledged to stick to Walsall's attacking game as he seeks to instigate a promotion charge from League One.

more

The 45-year-old, who has been part of the furniture at the Banks's Stadium for the past 13 years, is busy preparing for his first full season as manager.

Whitney played a major role in instigating the philosophy the Saddlers first started to implement under former boss Dean Smith.

And while admitting there will be some changes to how Walsall play, Whitney revealed they won't be wholesale.

He said: "It is just small things that I will be tweaking. I am happy to build on the philosophy we have got.

"It will be a high-tempo, aggressive style of football. I will get better on dead balls, I will work on that again.

"I have also added some bits for the gym which can help make us that bit stronger.

"There are lots of little things I have added to it, but in the grand scheme of things it won't change too much."

Whitney believes Walsall are now known throughout the Football League for being a team that likes to play in the right way.

And he feels that also makes them an attractive proposition when it comes to making new signings.

He continued: "People know the attraction. I have been contacted by several players who want to come to Walsall, because they know how we play football.

"That is really pleasing for me and the club, that we have got that brand – and that is not going to change. I am going to stick to that.

"People who know me from my playing days will know I was the total opposite of that!

"But it was the way I was coached, I would have loved to have this environment to work in and I am going to make sure I keep that up now.

"We will make a few changes to the daily training, the weekly schedules which work for me."

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Walsall fans will travel a total of 4,642 miles if they attend every away fixture in League One next season.

The furthest journey will again be to Gillingham where fans face a round trip of 329 miles. Coventry and back is the shortest distance at 55 miles in total.