Former Walsall manager Dean Smith has today given his first press conference since leaving the club to take up the Head Coach position at Sky Bet Championship side, Brentford. You can read what he said below.
Sitting alongside Co-Director of Football Rasmus Ankersen, Dean said; "It's is an exciting project here and there is a strategy which is in line with my values. There are some good players here and it is an exciting project to get involved in.
"The long-term aim for this football club is Premier League football and that is a short-term aim as well. The style of play here is very much aligned to how I want to play, I like attacking, pleasing on the eye football. It is a great job and a great opportunity.
"It's a good fit and if you look at how Walsall have played this season you'll see a real pleasing attacking style of play, and I'm sure that was part of their process in searching for a head coach. Hopefully it will be proved we are a good match, but I've done my due diligence and for me it was a no-brainer.
"Training, team selection, I will be involved in everything, all parts of the football club. From the outside it looks a whole lot different to any other football club, but I will be involved in recruitment, with the players and the day-to-day running of the football club.
"I've come from a job where I was in a very secure position and worked very well there, but I wasn't the only one picking players at Walsall. The final decision was with my chairman and it was up to him what he wanted to pay. So it's no different.
"I never worried about coming here as it's a great opportunity, and for young British managers working in the lower leagues it's a big pat on the back. To get a job in the Championship is an opportunity to showcase what I'm about and the vision for this football club is to get into the Premier League."
"Training, team selection, I will be involved in everything, all parts of the football club. From the outside it looks a whole lot different to any other football club, but I will be involved in recruitment, with the players and the day-to-day running of the football club.
"I've come from a job where I was in a very secure position and worked very well there, but I wasn't the only one picking players at Walsall. The final decision was with my chairman and it was up to him what he wanted to pay. So it's no different.
"I never worried about coming here as it's a great opportunity, and for young British managers working in the lower leagues it's a big pat on the back. To get a job in the Championship is an opportunity to showcase what I'm about and the vision for this football club is to get into the Premier League."