Walsall finally bit the bullet yesterday and pulled the plug on Dean Keates' reign at the Bescot Stadium.

A 3-1 home defeat against Oxford United was enough to convince the hierarchy that his time was well and truly up. After a decent start to the season they've dropped own the table and are currently in one of the four relegation spots.

The Saddlers have lost 13 of their last 17 matches in all competitons, and have registered just one away win in the league since October. It's been a calamitous run that has brought League Two football to their door.

They need to make a big appointment now, with five critical matches left to play. The bottom of League One is still so tightly packed that any one of 12 teams could go down. With Southend, Wycombe and Shrewsbury still to play, Walsall can ensure it isn't them.

There's plenty of managers out there wating for a call, but one that they must consider is former Bristol Rovers man Darrell Clarke. Here's three reasons why.

John Ward

The former England number two John Ward holds a role at the Bescot, but it was him who gave Clarke his break in the Football League with Bristol Rovers.

He was a mentor of sorts to the 45-year-old and the two would work well together at Walsall.

Knows League One and League Two

Clarke understand these divisions as well as anyone and he's still hungry for a chance to show what he can do.

Walsall have Championship potential in both stadium and their playing squad, but they might need to get out of League two first, a division Clarke has successfully negotiated once.

Young and Talented

Despite being dismissed by Bristol Rovers, he's still a young, up and coming manager. He was in his thirties when he took over the Gas and he's been learning ever since.

If they can tempt him to the Bescot, he could be the man to awaken a potential second-tier club.