O'Kelly on the clubs togetherness...
ASSISTANT Manager, Richard O’Kelly, has spoken of the atmosphere around the club with just three days until the new League campaign.
Speaking at the Open Training Day held at the stadium on Tuesday, the former Walsall marksman is hoping to harness a winning atmosphere around the Banks’s.
“The Open Day was really nice and the support was excellent,” he commented. “I think it was out biggest crowd yet for an open day.
“Hopefully the fans enjoyed themselves, they seemed to be in good spirits with the players buzzing around them.
“It again shows the family feel to Walsall Football Club, the one that makes you feel part of it.
“If you’re successful it will all be together and if we’re not, the supporters will be hurting just as much as we do.
“When you look at the young supporters who came, they might have spoken to a player or had a photo and it will be an experience they’ll remember for a long time.
“That’s what this is all about.”
O’Kelly’s footballing philosophy has helped formulate an attractive style of play over the past two seasons and despite acknowledging the importance of pre-season, the 58-year old can’t wait for the season to start.
“It’s [pre-season] very important because a lot of things can be achieved. Of course the biggest one is fitness, but then there’s the tactical and technical side of the game.
“But when it gets down to the crunch, its whether the players can perform when results matter, when there’s extra pressure.
“Their attitude has been first class. Whatever we’ve given the players in terms of new challenges, they come through them and want more.
“Of course they make mistakes, as people do in any walk of life but the players are resilient and help each other to bounce straight back.
“It’s exactly what you want to make this environment a successful one.”