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Byfield puts own future aside during play-off bid

by Luna
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Walsall head coach Darren Byfield says he is no clearer about his own future but cannot afford to think about it while the club's play-off challenge is still ongoing.

Byfield was put in charge until the end of the season on 18 March, a week after stepping up to replace Mat Sadler on an initial interim basis.

Under the club's former striker, the Saddlers won two and drew three of their first five games before suffering their first defeat at Swindon Town on Easter Monday.

With four games to go, Walsall are six points shy of the play-off places and Byfield said he has not had any further conversations about his position.

"No, nothing at all and I can't focus on that right now," he told BBC Radio WM.

"What I have to focus on is training and then the game on Saturday [against Cheltenham]. I'm enjoying it, I'm loving it, obviously I'm disappointed with the two Easter games [a 2-2 home draw with Gillingham and 2-1 loss at Swindon] but I'm happy with the performances, but let's turn them into wins."

Byfield said the lack of certainty beyond the end of the season is not distracting him from the immediate job on his hands.

"It doesn't play on my mind, but you do think 'Oh please just do well, let's do well, let's keep working hard and let's see what happens'.

"But it doesn't affect me if I'm brutally honest – the reason why? I love doing what I'm doing right now, it's exciting.

"Trying to get the boys to see the game how I see it and implement it, it's been brilliant. So I think the excitement takes away anything.

"In terms of what's going to happen, that's not really in my head. I love the football club. I've had the enjoyment and excitement of leading the boys and I'll keep doing it until told otherwise."

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'We don't stop until we can't get there'

Walsall take on the Robins, who sit in 19th place, knowing defeat could all but end their hopes of a top-seven finish.

But whatever the result, Byfield said his players will continue to give everything over the remaining games.

"100%, we don't stop until we're told that we can't get there [the play-offs] and then even if we get told that, we still keep playing because we have a duty to make sure we win matches and entertain our fans," he added.

"The players know they can't down tools, it's still mathematically possible so we have to keep going.

"Some are out of contract, some are still in contract but regardless they've still got to put in a shift, it's their duty. That's what we have to do and I'll make sure that's the case.

"In an ideal world as a manager you want pre-season, where you can get them to buy into what you want to do and perfect their skills and the formation.

"Unfortunately, I didn't have that time but what the boys have done in three weeks has been unbelievable."

Original Article

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