Following the news that former Saddlers midfielder Dean Keates had returned to manage the club on a three-and-a-half year deal, Walsall chief-executive Stefan Gamble has spoken to club journalists and insisted that Dean was the club's number one target.
Speaking via the club's official website - Saddlers.co.uk, Stefan said; "Dean was our number one target and we are delighted to welcome him back to the Banks’s Stadium. We received a number of impressive and credible applications but Dean was always at the forefront of our minds.
"It goes without saying that Dean made a huge impact in his two spells here as a player but this was not a decision based on emotion - we feel he is the best man to take the club forward.
"Dean’s work at Wrexham has been extremely impressive and their results this season underline his credentials as a manager. We would like to thank Wrexham for their professionalism throughout this process, and we wish them all the best for the rest of their season."
"It goes without saying that Dean made a huge impact in his two spells here as a player but this was not a decision based on emotion - we feel he is the best man to take the club forward.
"Dean’s work at Wrexham has been extremely impressive and their results this season underline his credentials as a manager. We would like to thank Wrexham for their professionalism throughout this process, and we wish them all the best for the rest of their season."