Tonight’s league match against Oldham saw a crowd of just 2,960 Saddlers fans watch our 3-0 demolition job. Take away the usual excuses such as midweek, weather, cup on Saturday (although that’s an unusual excuse given our performances in recent years!) and dress it up however you want, that’s a terrible number for a team sat on the cusps of the League One playoffs.

It’s too late now to do anything substantial about ticketing, seating and pricing differentials for this year, so one thing, and only one thing, could make a difference to the rest of the campaign. It’s time for the club owner to front up and state his ambitions for this season.

Is our debt sustainable enough to stand a season with a squad and manager that are growing together, seemingly stronger and more comfortable with each passing game, or will we have to sell up one or more of our promising youngsters in the January sales? If it’s the latter, I think the fans deserve to know sooner rather than later, and be given the reasons why.

Undoubtedly we’ll have to pay this debt off, but using such a short-term solution as selling a player when we’re in the position we are now would be a folly up there with the worst of them, guaranteed to see a further decline in numbers as the remaining fans realise what they’ve been willing to ignore thus far – under the current owner, Walsall’s mantra is “no ambition, no commitment, no future”.

Please, Jeff, do one thing this January, stand firm behind the club and you’ll see more fans stand behind you instead of against you.

On Sunday 25 October a team of Walsall Old Boys, managed by Chris ‘Stepover’ Marsh, will take on a team made up of Walsall supporters, organised by the Walsall Supporters Trust.

The match is scheduled to kick off at 1.00pm at the Rushall Olympic ground in Dales Lane, Rushall.

All players are donating £10 as a playing fee for the game, and spectators can pay on the gate; just £2 entry (accompanied juniors free) to watch what will surely be a passionate and committed spectacle as two confident teams face off against each other, one handicapped by being rank amateurs, the other by age.

All proceeds are going to the Walsall Hospice Appeal, the club’s preferred charity, so if you want to donate more as you enter, please feel free to do so.

The Trust are also hoping to organise a raffle, so any assistance with prizes – offers of goods or services both welcome – can email Dean from UTS at deanonev69@hotmail.com

Please, if you’ve got no plans for that day, turn up, make some noise, have fun and help raise money for a Walsall Hospice!

The Trust are holding an open meeting on 24 September at the Saddlers Club.

Starting at 7.45pm there’s no fixed agenda, and the idea is to host an open forum for ALL supporters, not just Trust members, to pool ideas and discuss the way forward for the Trust, as well as get to know the people whose (voluntary) job it is to do this – the Trust Board.

There’ll be a bar service, so rather than go down the pub, why not do something to help the Trust, help the club and help the fans of Walsall FC?

A strong trust has proven an asset to many similar sized clubs and we encourage everyone to get involved and help the Trust grow and move forward in a positive, popular direction.

Dean and the crew would love to see you there, whatever your opinion.