Brian Dutton feeling lucky to have Leigh Pomlett as Walsall chairman

Dutton is winless in his first eight games as manager as the club have slumped to 19th in the division.

In a video update on Monday, Pomlett backed Dutton but insisted he needed wins soon to keep his job.

Now, Dutton insists he needs time and transfer windows to turn the Walsall ‘project’ into a success.

“I put the pressure on myself,” Dutton said. “I feel ashamed that I haven’t got a win in eight, I can’t even look my bloody boxer dog in the eye, never mind a human being. I put massive pressure on myself.

“Do I feel unfortunate? Yes I do. The refereeing decisions have gone against me.

“Has it been a baptism of fire? Yes it has. We’ve played four of the top eight. It’s been tough. But I know I’m very fortunate to have such a great chairman in Leigh Pomlett. He’s going to rationalise things and not make impulsive decisions. With a lot of football chairmen I’d have been down the road a long time ago.

“I believe in my ability and have nothing but self confidence. I’m willing to prove the doubters wrong. I just need time and to bring in players that are going to compliment the group.

“All the managers that have come in at League One and League Two after the transfer window have not had that bounce.

“There hasn’t been that bounce because managers need different players for different ideas. You don’t get that without transfer windows.

“I won’t sulk and cry about it, we have to move forward.

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I’m big enough and ugly enough to take the criticism.

“It’s well deserved, no wins in eight is very poor form. Even though we were one win in seven when I came in, so there was that slump anyway.

“I’m a very positive person and know what it takes to make Walsall a special team once again.

“Look back at the years, Dean Smith was great and his team had an identity. Richard Money, another top football coach, his team had an identity. All the way back to Ray Graydon, a top football club whose team had an identity. We have to bring that back to Walsall. It can’t be scattergun, sporadic signings. It has to be a project where everyone is singing off the same hymn sheet, right through the youth and first team.

“We’re designing something that is going to last long-term, rather than short-term.

“It might get lucky bringing in another manager with a shiny CV and he might overachieve, but history tells us it’s all about projects and building identities within the team.

“That’s what I’m looking to do, but I’m realistic to know I have to win football games.”