Brian Dutton thankful for Walsall opportunity

The 36-year-old left the Saddlers on Monday after just over three months in charge, after Darrell Clarke left in mid-February.

Dutton only achieved three wins in his 20 games but was applauded for some of his work in bringing through young talent.

In the end he was not kept on for next season and in a statement published by the League Managers Association, Dutton has thanked the club for the opportunity.

The statement read: "I would like to thank all of the Walsall players, staff and fans for their support and efforts over the past two years but particularly over the last three months. I am grateful to Leigh Pomlett and Stefan Gamble for giving me the opportunity to step in and become manager of this great football club.

“I took on this challenge because I believed I could make a positive difference. The past twelve weeks have been an incredible experience for me. It truly is a 24/7 job full of such great highs and lows.

“The greatest part of the job is the connections you make at the football club, including wonderful people, from the receptionists and stewards all the way through to the chairman. Interactions with like-minded, passionate people, all striving for the same goal.

“Also, being able to connect the academy with the first team and support the pathway for young local talent to thrive provided me with ultimate job satisfaction. I took great pleasure in watching the academy players from under-9 to under-18’s train, forecasting who might be good enough in the years to come to make a difference at first team level.

“I am proud to have taken on the challenge of managing one of the youngest squads in the EFL. Credit to the staff and players for the way they have approached every game and improved as the season progressed. In the last months of the season, we were competitive in every game, we conceded fewer goals and earned more clean sheets. I’m confident that with this experience, the team will be better prepared next year to compete with the best teams in the league.

“I’d like to wish Walsall Football Club the very best in the future and I now look forward to my next challenge.”