Mark Swann replaces Byfield as Walsall Wood manager

Former Villa and Walsall striker Byfield left the ML Safety Stadium yesterday, after eight months in charge, having agreed to join Evo-Stik Central Premier club Alvechurch.

The Wood chairman Justin Hodgin and his fellow board members held a conference call to discuss the way forward and opted to make an appointment quickly.

Swann was granted permission by Romulus to speak to Wood and agreed to return to the club he managed for five years, guiding them to an FA Vase quarter-final, before leaving in November 2016.

Hodgin said: “We wanted to make an appointment as quickly as possible. We want someone who can take the club forward and buys into our ethos, just like Darren did.”

The Wood have enjoyed an excellent two seasons on the pitch, winning Division One of the Midland League last season.

Byfield, who replaced former Saddlers team-mate Gary Birch in the hotseat, then guided them to a second-placed finish in the Premier Division, only missing out on the title and a second straight promotion on goal difference.

“It’s a real shame to lose Darren but this is a great opportunity for him and we are not the kind of club that stands in the way of someone’s ambition,” said Hodgin. “I know (Alvechurch chairman) Richard Thorndike well and everything has been done very professionally.

“With the success we have had over the past couple of years we feel the club is on the map. I had quite a few texts from people who were interested in the job.”

Byfield thanked the club for “restoring his belief” having joined following a difficult spell in charge at Stratford Town.

“As excited as I am by the new challenge, I am disappointed to be leaving some very good people at Walsall Wood,” he said.

“I really cannot speak highly enough of everyone involved at the club.”