Byfield relaxed over potential Walsall future
Darren Byfield says he is staying is not getting too preoccupied about his potential chances of staying on as head coach at Walsall.
Walsall head coach Darren Byfield is taking the mindset of "what will be will be" over whether he carries on in charge next season. The former Saddlers striker was appointed until the end of the campaign in March having replaced Mat Sadler on an initial interim basis, and said he has been really "proud" to have led the club and the board "knows how close the club is to my heart". After an initial five-game unbeaten run at the start of his tenure, Byfield could not get the club into the League Two play-off places as they finished a frustrating season in 13th, well adrift of the top seven.
"It didn't go how we wanted it to," Byfield told BBC Radio WM. "We're not happy, we're better than that and we've got to get Walsall back to where where we belong. "I think the most important thing is [Walsall] are a team that's challenging next season and we know there's going to be a lot of work needed throughout the summer and the head coach implementing the success that's needed.
"When the time comes for it to be announced, I'm sure they would have spoken to me, and what will be will be. Regardless, we just need also to be a successful football club once again. " Changing to chase play-offs cost Walsall - Byfield Byfield puts own future aside during play-off bid Trust from boss Byfield has given Hancock 'freedom' Byfield to keep knocking on door for black bosses Having led the division in December, Walsall fans saw another hopeful shot at promotion end in disappointment following last season's defeat in the play-off final.
Byfield said he used their final-day loss to champions Bromley - and their promotion celebrations - as something to emulate. "This is what we want, this is what we need at our football club and it's going to take from pre-season day one, these boys being challenged to be the best they can be," he added. "When you do that and it becomes a collective thing all that success will follow.