Dean Smith backed to get job full-time

Matt Richards today backed caretaker boss Dean Smith for Walsall's top job.

The head of youth takes charge of the first team at Tranmere tomorrow with the Saddlers bidding to claw their way back from the brink.

They are eight points from the final safety spot – which Rovers occupy – after Tuesday's sacking of Chris Hutchings.

Ex-Mansfield boss David Holdsworth is the latest to be linked to the post while Smith has stayed tight-lipped over whether he wants to succeed Hutchings.

But Richards admitted the squad would be delighted if he was handed full-time control.

"Definitely, he's a great coach and brings something different to us," said the midfielder. "There aren't going to be any surprises. He knows us, we know him and we're settled. He's going to do very well and has the confidence of the whole club that he can turn it around.

"He has been involved in the first team, he knows everyone's game and how everyone works and he's a great coach. He does some brilliant drills and has some great ideas and we're looking forward to working with him.

"It's not the best situation and everyone is shocked. We've got to focus on the job in hand and work as hard as we can for Dean."

And Richards has revealed how ex-boss Hutchings said his goodbyes to the squad on Tuesday after Monday's 4-1 defeat at Peterborough.

He said: "We did our warm down and Chris broke the news to us, I was quite shocked. I know the results haven't been good but I was disappointed. Chris, Martin (O'Connor) and David (Hamilton) have been brilliant but it's football and it's a results business."