Frank Barlow has left the club in order to become Gary Megson’s Assistant at Nottingham Forest, following Frank Burrows’ decision not to follow Megson because of “family problems”.

The departure of the club’s second coach this season, following Iffy Onoura, plus the “will he won’t he” saga of Merson’s threatened resignation just leaves the club’s coaching arrangements in complete disarray.

BBC West Midlands is reporting that Paul Merson has decided not to resign and to remain in his post as manager of Walsall.

He made the decision after a meeting with Jeff Bonser this morning.

This is despite last night’s thrashing at Colchester and a record as Manager of Played 38, Won 11, Lost 18, Drawn 9, the equivalent of an average of a mere 1.1 points per game.

This compares poorly with, say, Jan Sorensen’s Played 62, Won 26, Lost 23, Drawn 13, or 1.46 points per game, or even Colin Lee’s Played 116, Won 38, Lost 48, Drawn 30, or 1.24 points per game.

Paul Merson has told the Evening Mail that he does not consider the club’s current plight to be the fault of the players. While telling them last night that he was considering his position as Manager, he also said:-

“Whatever happens I’m not blaming the players. They’ve been as good as gold for me this season but I don’t know what the way forward is now. It can’t go any further back, can it?”