Joe Edwards: Walsall must take responsibility
Walsall cannot rely on new signings to turn their season around, midfielder Joe Edwards has declared.
A run of seven games without a win has seen the Saddlers drop to 16th in League One, five points above the relegation zone.
With the January transfer window open, manager Dean Keates has said he is working on signings to strengthen his squad and give the club a lift.
But Edwards says he and his team-mates need to take responsibility for Walsall’s poor run of form.
“There will be more competition for places when new signings come in which can give people a lift,” Edwards said.
“But we have got to get the most of out the players we have already and that’s down to me as one of the senior players.
“We’ve got to realise that if no-one does come in then it is down to us, we’re the only ones who can turn it around.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves and we can’t sit back and hope that something will happen for us, we have got to go and make it happen.
“You have got to be the one that thinks, I’m here, and I’m going to change our fortunes.”
Edwards admits the team is low on confidence at the minute.
But he says the way turn that around is by working extra hard.
“There is a lack of confidence at the moment,” the 28-year-old continued.
“And when that’s the case you have got to find something from somewhere.
“For me, I have always found it by working extra hard and then you often find that your luck changes a little bit and you gradually get your confidence back.
“We need to stick together as one unit now and if you’re picking somebody out then you are doing it for the right reason.
“You’re always trying to help them, you’re not trying to kill their confidence.
“It happens in football and it happens a lot with younger players but you have got to be strong enough to come through that.
“In football confidence is a massive thing. At the moment we are probably lacking that but we can get it back by putting in hard work and doing the right things.”
Meanwhile, Walsall have confirmed they will hold a fan focus meeting on Monday.
Chief executive Stefan Gamble and club secretary Dan Mole will answer supporters questions at the Banks's Stadium from 7pm.
