Chris Marsh: Walsall cash injection must be used to back Dean Keates

It happens during every transfer window.

Troy Deeney is linked with a multi-million pound move away from Watford.

And that would mean Walsall land a substantial cash windfall thanks to the sell-on clause they negotiated when he left the Banks's in 2010.

Will it happen, won't it happen? I honestly don't know.

But what I do want is our board to start backing Dean Keates – because it's clear to everyone we are struggling to compete financially.

Keates has missed out on numerous players this summer.

Walsall are trying to operate on a strict budget, but football has moved on and we are being left behind.

There is so much money in the game now that another club will happily pay that little bit extra to land a player.

And we have to start doing the same.

For a long time now Walsall have had a policy where they invest half of any transfer money received back into the club.

The other half then goes into the playing budget.

That is all well and good but I believe the time has come to shuffle the pack.

We need to look at the model because something is not working.

And the people upstairs need to do more to benefit the team. We need to put the team first.

Let's make one thing clear – every team should start League One believing there is a chance they can make the play-offs.

It's a very even league. And if you find the right players, are organised, have a strong team spirit and gather some momentum, you can compete.

No Walsall fan should believe the team can't ever make the top six.

Both Keatsy and I did it when we were playing.

But you've got to have a go – you can't just be happy to survive.

And to have a go, you need to be backed.

We're about to start a season with a squad severely light on numbers.

Keates will get criticism if we have a bad start, he's the manager and it comes with the territory.

But he won't be the man that receives the brunt of fan anger.

It's the board and Bonser that will be targeted because people can see Keates isn't being given a fair crack of the whip.

He needs to be given more support. And if the board does back him and it goes wrong – at least then they can say they have done their bit.

By not backing him they are making a rod for their own back.

Finally this week I just want to say a big thank-you to everyone who came out and supported us at the charity game I organised for Isabella Lyttle.

It was a huge success. Lee Hendrie and the players who took part were fantastic.

And Isabella was a real star. It was lovely to meet such an inspirational girl.