Brentford head coach Lee Carsley had thought he’d stepped down last week as the club’s most successful manager, but the uncertainty over his replacement means his record is back on the line.
Advertisement
Smith has emerged as the Championship club’s first choice as new head coach and could complete his move to Griffin Park in the next few days if talks go smoothly.
Walsall boss Dean Smith is now favourite to step into the ex-Everton midfielder’s shoes on a permanent basis as the saga of replacing departed Marinus Dijkhuizen continues.
The statement thanked Carsley for his “outstanding” work under “difficult circumstances”, with the 41-year-old having made it clear from the off that he would not be taking the job permanently.
“We have been hugely impressed by Dean’s work at Walsall and especially how he has managed to turn a club with such a low budget into one pushing for promotion”.
It is understood Brentford owner Mathew Benham has tracked Smith, who won the League One Manager of the Month award in August for some time.
“In that respect Dean is a great fit to Brentford FC”.
A return to Walsall as coach followed his departure from Doncaster in 2011, and the following year he was back at Hereford in his only full managerial role to date, but was unable to stop the Bulls slipping out of the Football League.
Brentford appear to have got fed up with waiting for a definite answer from Clotet, and instead approached Walsall manager Smith, who is now on the brink of being appointed.
Advertisement
A statement on the official club website also revealed that Carsley will leave the club at the end of December.
