Walsall 'will do it my way' in play-offs push - Byfield

"I just believe anything I do, I'm going to do it how I need it to be done and how I want it to be done, and if I am out of work Sunday, I did it my way and that's how I'll always be".

If Darren Byfield's first game in temporary charge at Walsall was an audition, it went well enough for a call-back.

Play-off rivals Crewe Alexandra were dispatched 3-0 before, in his second game in interim charge, automatic promotion candidates Cambridge United were impressively held to a goalless draw.

Byfield's bold tactical tweaks, and freshening up of the side, seemed to have had the desired effect.

The club's board certainly think so, announcing this week that the 49-year-old has now got the job at least until the end of the season - one that could yet end in promotion.

And Saddlers' fans will be delighted to hear Byfield will continue to approach the remaining eight games in the same way.

"We still can improve out of possession, and in possession they need to be braver on the football," he told BBC Radio WM.

"It's been so tough for them to change formation, I also gave people games who haven't had many minutes this year.

"I'm asking them to do something different now and I understand that.

"We need to get three points at home for the first time since Boxing Day on Saturday. That's the plan as it will be for the next remaining seven games after that."

Byfield said the days following Mat Sadler's sacking on 11 March had been "emotional" with "a lot of different feelings" over the former head coach's departure after nearly three years in charge.

"It's a little bit traumatic when somebody goes and if it's somebody you've been working with but there is no time to hang about, especially not in this league," he said.

The former Saddlers striker said the club's board had "all shown their support for me and faith in me" and that gave him confidence going into his first game at the helm.

"Against Crewe, it was an audition, if I'm being honest. Because if we'd got beaten, then I'm probably not here speaking about Newport on Saturday," he continued.

"So I've had the backing of the staff as well and the players have showed that they they understand what we want from them and they've gave their all so for me, it's helped me massively."

Byfield cut his managerial teeth in non-league football with Redditch United, Stratford Town, Walsall Wood and Alvechurch.

His only other front-line experience in charge was a two-game spell in interim charge at League Two club Crawley Town at the end of 2022 and early 2023.

But Byfield said he has drawn on all his previous experience since stepping up with the Saddlers.

"I must have used about 75 different formations and about 2,000 players and what I learned in non-league, and the reason I did it is because I could work out what I wanted as a manager," he said.

"I knew I could make mistakes in non-league and it wouldn't be publicised as much as me being in the EFL and what it led to was I knew exactly how I wanted my teams to play."

It helped Byfield think on his feet when he found himself in control at Crawley when Matthew Etherington was sacked after only 34 days.

"Because we were training and travelling I had an hour to train them - 20 minutes in possession, 20 minutes out of possession and 20 minutes set-pieces and what we did, we drew two each," Byfield said.

"I knew it's how I wanted to play the game, and I didn't have much time, but being in non-league helped, and then it was the same here - nothing changes."

With eight games remaining, and the gap to the play-off places just two points, Byfield wants to deliver promotion - something he achieved with the club via the play-offs under Ray Graydon in 2000-2001.

"I'm going to give my best and give my all. I love the football club," he added.

"I want us to do well regardless, but it's just that I'm in a position now where I'm just happy and excited.

"I don't feel any nerves and that's because of the people I've got behind me supporting me.

"We can get promoted. I know people are saying we're fighting for that last play-off spot - fine, let's win it if it is."

The early signs are good but whichever way it goes for Walsall from here on in, it will definitely be Byfield's way.