Walsall FC closing on in naming new assistant boss

The Saddlers chief has a six-man shortlist and he could install someone ahead of Saturday's derby with Shrewsbury.

Academy boss Neil Woods is helping Smith and was in the dug-out for Saturday's 0-0 draw at Brentford but the manager confirmed he is ready to move.

"I've got a few interviews this week so it'll be a busy week coming back from Carlisle tomorrow and then sitting down with a few on Wednesday," he said.

"I've spoken to a couple already and it might be before the game on Saturday.

"But I haven't got a timeframe at the moment. I need to make sure I speak to the people and get the right man."

Smith needs to replace David Kelly who left the Saddlers after just nine days as assistant to join long-term friend Billy Davies at Nottingham Forest earlier this month.

Kelly had himself replaced Richard O'Kelly after the ex-Walsall striker linked up with Sean O'Driscoll at Bristol City in January.

Smith moved for Kelly immediately after O'Kelly's exit but insisted this time he must consider more candidates.

He said: "When it came up first time David sprang to my head straight away with a list of three others. Fortunately David wanted to come. At the moment there are a couple of people I still want to speak to."

Saturday's point kept the Saddlers ninth in League One, nine points adrift of the top six, ahead of tomorrow's trip to Carlisle.

And Smith praised his troops as they continued their impressive run in 2013, losing just once in the last nine games.

He said: "We're very organised, we have players who know what they need to do during a game, know how to see it through and how to win. They showed an awful lot of that out there.

"We're not looking at the points at the moment because we're just looking to win the next game.

"I heard their manager (Uwe Rosler) saying before the game we might sit back but we have players who want to win and we're used to winning games."