Walsall fans plan march on the Banks's as protests poised to continue
Walsall supporters are planning to march on the Banks’s Stadium as part of ongoing protests against the running of the club.
The march is being organised for the Saddlers’ next home League One fixture against MK Dons on Saturday February 3 and will see a group of fans march from the site of Fellows Park – the club’s former home – during the second half of the match.
Around 100 supporters, angry at what they perceive as a lack of ambition from owner Jeff Bonser, took part in protests during and after last weekend’s 2-1 home win over Oxford United.
An already testing season saw the Saddlers suffer another blow yesterday with the departure of highly-respected first-team coach Neil Cutler, who moved across the Black Country to become Albion’s new goalkeeping coach.
Confirming plans for the second protest to the Express & Star, organiser Olly Beckett claimed many supporters are concerned the club is losing its identity.
He said: “We want Mr Bonser to remember this is a football club, not a wedding or conference venue.
“We want fans to join together and show him what the club means to us. We want him to show us his so-called passion for Walsall matches our own.”
Just as in the first protest, season ticket holders will be asked to walk out on the 80th minute and join those who have taken part in the march outside the ground.
In the meantime, Beckett and a small delegation of supporters are scheduled to hold talks with Saddlers chief executive Stefan Gamble and secretary Dan Mole tomorrow.
The fans group, which includes a representative from the supporters’ trust, have requested Bonser also attend.
“We want answers to our questions from the main man,” said Beckett. “Even if the answers are not what we want to hear, they will at least be from him.”
Cutler leaves the Banks’s having played an integral role since first joining as goalkeeper coach in May 2013.
The 41-year-old, who began his playing career as a trainee with the Baggies, helped sign and develop both Richard O’Donnell and Neil Etheridge while with the Saddlers.
Walsall have meanwhile extended the contract of right-back Liam Kinsella by a further year. The 21-year-old has agreed a deal which keeps him at the club until 2019.
