Fans flocking to Walsall crunch clash
Walsall are set to record their biggest gate of the season when they host Northampton in a crunch relegation six-pointer on Saturday.
The Saddlers sit on the brink of League One’s bottom four and would have fallen in last night if Oldham hadn’t lost to Southend.
Dean Keates’ side now face what looks to be a season- defining game on Saturday with both Walsall and the Cobblers still fighting to avoid the drop.
And they are expected to be roared on by the biggest gate of the season having already sold more than 6,500 tickets for the match.
Yesterday, the club made the game all-ticket for Northampton supporters with more then 1,400 tickets having already been purchased by visiting fans.
And with sales set to continue over the next few days, Saturday’s attendance is expected to get close to the 8,000 mark.
Walsall’s highest attendance at the Banks’s Stadium this season arrived in February when 6,893 fans watched the clash with Blackburn Rovers.
The Boxing Day game with Bristol Rovers attracted 5,759 fans while the visit of Portsmouth last month saw 5,159 walk through the turnstiles.
Meanwhile, Keates looks set to have the option of adding Wrexham coach Andy Davies to his backroom team in the summer if he chooses.
Davies was Keates’ number two at the Racecourse Ground and was placed in temporary charge of the Dragons after the 39-year-old replaced Jon Whitney in the Saddlers hot seat.
Davies had been in contention to remain in charge of the Welsh side.
But they now look set to appoint a different manager in the coming weeks after a dip in form saw them drop out the play-off positions in the National League.
And when asked what the future holds for him, Davies remained tight-lipped.
He said: “It was get to the end of the season and see where we are at.
“That was the job we got asked to do like everybody else and then we see who comes in and what their plans are going forward for next season.”
Walsall’s board has given Keates assurances money will be available should he choose to strengthen his coaching staff.