Express & Star

Walsall board apologise to fans following relegation

Walsall’s board has issued an apology to supporters following the club’s relegation into League Two.

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Walsall owner Jeff Bonser and chief executive Stefan Gamble

A 0-0 draw at Shrewsbury ensured the Saddlers fell through League One’s trap door on the final day of the 2018/19 campaign.

As well as issuing an apology, the statement also promised the club will look to rebuild it’s football philosophy and soon appoint a new manager.

The statement read: “Following confirmation of the club’s relegation to League Two, the Walsall FC Board of Directors would like to place on record our disappointment and apologise to all associated with the club, most importantly our supporters.

“We started the season with a 10-match unbeaten run in all competitions and occupied fifth place at the beginning of October.

“But a significant downturn in results led to the departure of manager Dean Keates in April and has culminated in relegation after 12 years in League One.

“We understand the fans’ frustrations and acknowledge relegation is not an acceptable outcome for the season. We too are deeply hurt by what has happened.

“Focus will now turn to the short and medium term, with the key priorities being rebuilding the club’s football philosophy and the search for a manager to drive us forward and back into League One as swiftly as possible.”

Meanwhile, Martin O’Connor expressed his disappointment at the team’s relegation with the interim boss believing the result at Shrewsbury wasn’t what sent them down.

“I’m sad, frustrated and disappointed,” O’Connor said.

“I felt during the week we were positive and we tried to instill some more belief after the Peterborough result and performance.

“In the first-half we were tentative and nervous. I had a few words at half-time and told them to play without fear.

“They did that and I thought we were the better team in the second half.

“But I don’t think today is why we got relegated.

“There have been some non-performances throughout the season where we have not “picked up points and been really poor.

“We have to look at ourselves in the mirror and try and understand why this has happened to the club.

“Hopefully from the ashes a phoenix will come out.”