Mr Phillip Prosser will take charge of this weekends game with Tranmere Rovers. He is well known to Walsall fans for his role in last seasons Ritchiegate saga. Prosser took charge of our 2-1 defeat against Millwall last season.

This game saw Paul Ritchie red carded in a game that eventually yielded a total of 10 cautions. Prosser then went on to report Ritchie for an after match incident that took place in the tunnel.

We only have 4 survivors from that September clash. These include Darren Wrack, Simon Osborn, Jorge Leitao and Neil Emblen. Matt Fryatt was an unused sub.

He averaged 1 red card every two games last season (16 in 34), while this season he is down to just 1 in 4 (5 in 19). The worrying thing for Walsall is that Mr Prosser hasn’t dismissed a player for the last 4 games.

Former Walsall defender Dean Smith has taken up his first coaching role.

Deano has become the Leyton Orient Youth Team Coach. Smith featured against the Saddlers in the early season clash against Port Vale, and got a warm welcome from the Walsall crowd.

Born in West Bromwhich, Smith went on to play well over 600 games for the likes of Hereford, Orient, Sheffield Wednesday and Port Vale.

Ian Roper’s recovery from his injury, which has already kept him out of the game for a month, has received a set back.

The popular centre back was due to play for the reserves in last night’s Birmingham Senior Cup defeat at Rushall, but he broke down in training.

There has been no word from the club on the prognosis, which leaves Paul Merson very short of defensive cover.

Rushall acheived a deserved 3 - 2 win in the cup tie.