Chris Marsh: Fan focus is a step in the right direction for Walsall

First of all, I think the club should be congratulated for holding this meeting with supporters tomorrow.

It’s not an easy time to be answering questions and Jon Whitney, Stefan Gamble and Dan Mole deserve credit for stepping forward.

Last week in this column, I called for the club to communicate better with fans and it’s clear they are trying to do that.

The problem is that once again Jeff Bonser won’t be there and he is the man we really want to hear from.

I’m sure my column last week rattled a few cages at the club.

But the reaction I have had from supporters has been fantastic. I did it for the supporters and I have been really chuffed with the response.

What’s really pleasing is that it feels like Saddlers fans have some real momentum behind them at the moment.

And while I think they should go to the meeting tomorrow and ask questions of Whitney, Gamble and Mole – I also think they should protest on Saturday.

The only thing that matters is Walsall Football Club and we want to know is how the club is progressing.

Whitney, Gamble and Mole can give us some answers.

But it is Mr Bonser who holds the real power and Walsall’s fans deserve to hear from their owner.

It is Walsall Football Club we need to get right. And until he makes it clear exactly what the club’s ambitions and aspirations are, I think fans have every right to boycott.

Moving on to matters on the field, I was pleased to see the Saddlers re-sign George Dobson last week.

I think, by his own admission, the midfielder took his time to adapt to first-team football following his loan move from West Ham last year. Playing in League One is completely different to the academy football he had been used to.

But as his loan spell went on, he adapted and we could see at the end of it just what a talented player he is.

Dobson is only 20 years old, but a lot has gone on in his career.

He started out at Arsenal, before moving to West Ham. Then after his loan with the Saddlers he joined Sparta Rotterdam.

Going abroad is a fantastic education for any player. But the time has come for Dobson to put down some roots.

I think he can progress into a very good player, he certainly has pedigree.

Now though his aim has to be to work hard and cement his place in the Saddlers first-team.

He has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal, he is stopping here and he has to concentrate fully on being a great player for Walsall Football Club.