Walsall could go second tonight...
Head coach Jon Whitney believes Walsall “deserve” their chance of success this season.The 45-year-old has helped the Saddlers climb to third in League One – just three points off the automatic promotion places with a game in hand.
Whitney first joined the club’s backroom team in December 2003 and has held various different roles over the years, including physiotherapist, assistant boss and coach.
During his 13-year association with Walsall, he has witnessed two relegations, one promotion and a run to the JPT final.
And Whitney believes we deserve our latest shot at success for all the hard work that has taken place at the club in recent times.
“We’ve got a reputation at Walsall, right through the club – from the chairman through to the administration staff – of doing things the right way,” he said.
“We’ve got a philosophy which has taken time to build. That’s why it’s special and why we deserve where we end up at the end of the season.
“It’s great but we’ve got to keep driving on – everybody. I’ve been here for 12-13 years and I’ve seen the bad times and so many managers.
“But we deserve this chance now because we’ve sacrificed a lot over the years. We’re going to grab it with both hands and drive it forward and see where it takes us.”
Walsall’s 1-0 victory over Southend on Saturday, courtesy of Jordy Hiwula’s 88th-minute header, means promotion is now back in our hands.
“If we win tonight we can possibly go second if Burton also lose against Wigan,” Whitney commented.
“It’s in our hands and each game we play is in our hands.
“I’ve said to the players ‘take away everything else around the periphery and the external influences, it’s all about now and our game plan’.
“The players are so good at taking on board what we’re telling them and they stick to it to a tee.”