Jon Whitney vows to win over Walsall doubters

Figures obtained from the Express & Star’s end of season survey showed Saddlers supporters are divided on whether Whitney should remain in the Banks’s Stadium hot seat.

A total of 740 supporters completed the annual survey with one of the questions asking whether they were happy with how the 46-year-old is managing the team.

Of those polled, 55 per cent said they feel Walsall need a more experienced boss while 23 per cent said they are happy to give Whitney more time. 22 per cent are still undecided about their manager.

Whitney had to endure a small section of supporters calling for him to be sacked after Walsall ended the 2016/17 season with a home defeat to MK Dons.

But the boss has promised to win over any doubters next season.

“After the disappointing end to the season and the negative press that followed in the two weeks after, I can understand those results,” Whitney said.

“It is my motivation to turn them around.

“Where there is some emotion and some debate there is always an opportunity to turn things into a positive. It drives me on to turn those opinions around.

“Fans want more experience but I have vastly more experience now than when I took the job and I had a lot of supporters backing me then.

"I know there are areas to improve. That is the same for everyone.

“But I am willing to do it and I have got an incredible work ethic that cannot be matched by anyone else, experienced or non-experienced.

“For me it’s a great challenge. I’ve had some magical days with the fans.

“Shrewsbury when I first took charge and more recently when we scored late against Oldham and Chesterfield.

“I understand the negativity that has followed following the end of the season.

“But I also understand that I had to make some decisions for the good of the club moving forward.

“From that negative finish we will be strong. It’s time for me to show the fans we can have a really successful season.”