PAUL MERSON will lead Walsall into Saturday's League I clash with Town at the Bescot Stadium after being talked out of resigning as player- manager.
Fans turned on the former Arsenal and Aston Villa player after Tuesday's 5-0 drubbing at Colchester.
Merson said he had offered to resign but was persuaded to carry on by chairman Jeff Bonser.
"I am a manager of a football club and I have 16 or 17 players that I don't want to leave in the lurch. It's up to me to turn this club around," he said.
The Saddlers are 17th in the table and have won only once away from home in the League all season.
Former England player Merson admitted he "felt sorry for fans" who had travelled to Layer Road.
"I was going over to take corners and getting slaughtered, to be fair not by all the fans, but I do have feelings.
"The players are behind me, they've shown that by their reaction when they heard what I was thinking about, and hopefully they can show me again at home to Huddersfield."
