Walsall appear to be in trouble of not making the League Two play-offs with the Saddlers 12th in the league heading into the final ten games of the season.
The outfit, who have been top of the table for several stages during the last two seasons, have won just one of their last five games.
As a result of this, former manager Mat Sadler parted ways with the club with Co Chairman Ben Boycott stating: “I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the significant efforts and contributions of Mat, both as a professional and as a person, during his time at the Club.
“We thank him for his dedicated service and wish him the very best for the future.”
With Sadler now gone, Darren Byfield has taken over as the team’s interim head coach with his only other managerial spell in professional football coming with Crawley Town.
Now, the interim boss has outlined his personal goals, whilst also looking at other topics.
Speaking to the press ahead of his side’s fixture with Crewe Alexandra, Byfield stated: “Mat Sadler had a massive effect on everyone in terms of the man he is.
“He’s missed by a lot of the people here and we know he’d done a good job.
“But we just couldn’t get them over the line.”
Speaking about his managerial aspirations, Darren Byfield added: “I’d love to manage. It’s always my aspiration to do that.
“For me, I never looked too far ahead. I’m not in charge of that.
“I enjoyed being first-team coach at Walsall. I’d enjoy it if I was assistant manager at Walsall and I’d enjoy being the manager of Walsall as an interim.
“This is Walsall, a club that the fans know, staff know, anyone associated with the club know means an awful lot to me – this is my football club.
“So I would do the job that I’m asked to do until told not to do, or to do it for longer – it’s simple as.”
Finally, looking ahead to the rest of the season, the manager explained: “It’s up to us to make sure we get three points and that momentum back.
“We have got some really good players and what we have to do is make it a good team.
“We have to stop the rot and we’ve got to be positive and it’s my job to now give that to the boys and let them go out there and have no fear, full press all over the place and have a good go at Crewe.
“The goal is we want to get out the league. We want to be promoted. I want them to go and express themselves.
“Our fans, if they see you’re giving your all, will love you. And that’s what we have to do. We have to get that connection with our fans, we’ve got to get that back.”
With Darren Byfield outlining his aims and aspirations, he will lead his first fixture against Crewe Alexandra this afternoon.
