Dean Smith: It's a big team effort here
Walsall's Dean Smith has refused to take credit for the club's dramatic change in fortunes since his appointment as manager.
The former Saddlers centre-back took over the managerial reigns from close pal Chris Hutchings in January 2011 and immediately masterminded a great escape to preserve the club's League One status.
Four-and-a-half years later, Walsall are top the table and have also visited Wembley for the first time in their history having made it to the final of last season's Johnstone's Paint Trophy.
That success has not gone unnoticed with Championship outfit Rotherham making a move for the managers services last month.
But Smith believes it's been a team effort to turn the club around. "We weren't in a great place when I took over – it's always tough when you come into a club and I took over from a friend of mine," Smith said. "But it takes a lot of people to turn a club around. Everyone here is in it together and you have to be. We all want to come through and be successful together – there is no room for individuals.
"It is a team effort. You see it on the pitch but if you come to the training ground you really see the work ethic between everyone."
