When Richard Money was appointed Walsall manager at the end of last season's disappointment, many supporters were asking "Richard who?"
They feared a man who had been out of this country for three years might struggle to cope with the demands of the Football League's basement, even though he had led the Australian club, Newcastle Jets, to promotion.
But more than 2,500 Saddlers' fans paid tribute to the man on Saturday when this win clinched automatic promotion to the Coca-Cola League One, and they roared: "Dicky Dosh's barmy army" long after Trevor Benjamin's 85th-minute strike ensured there would be no need for the play-offs.
That goal by the much-travelled Benjamin, on loan from Peterborough United, was another example of Money's skill in adding to the squad just at the time when their lack goals was threatening to undermine all the hard work that had been done in the previous months.
In his five appearances, the big striker has scored twice, won a penalty for the winning goal at Torquay and been fouled in an incident which saw Hereford reduced to ten men before the Saddlers beat them with a late goal. And another loanee, Kevin Harper from Stoke City, scored the opener against County.
Glancing back for a moment, Money admitted: "I enjoyed my time abroad and had the opportunity to manage some big clubs and was very successful, but unless you are in England, football people don't know too much about it.
"I am grateful to the Walsall chairman (Jeff Bonser) for giving me the opportunity and the support we have had has been top class. I am proud of what we have achieved because I know how hard we have had to work for it."
Now the manager wants his team to win their remaining three games and hopefully overhaul Hartlepool United for the League Two title, but he has already started work on planning for next season in the higher division, anyway.
"There are a number of players we would like to sign for next season and we shall be talking to them soon, having identified what we think we need," Money said.
"I still think there is a big rebuilding job to be done. We don't want to go into the next division and just make up the numbers."
Long-serving winger Darren Wrack, who has fought back from a very serious leg fracture to play a part in the promotion charge, also insisted they would not be resting on their laurels after sealing their escape from League Two.
He told me: "We now want to win this league, because if you do you get a medal, whereas you don't get anything for coming second. And I want to be back playing in the Championship before I finish my career with Walsall.
"It's been a long two years for me, but where we are now more than makes up for it."
An example of the team spirit that has been built at Walsall was shown by the fact that, on the final whistle, the players and manager were joined on the pitch by Mark Kinsella, now a coach with Premiership Charlton Athletic.
He was a big loss when he left the Saddlers in mid-season to join the London club, but showed his commitment to them by turning up unexpectedly at Meadow Lane.
It would be nice to say that Walsall clinched promotion with flowing football and a bit of style, but that was not the case. On a bumpy pitch, they found it difficult to cope with County's aggressive style and ability to find the head of tall striker Jason Lee time and again, in the first half particularly.
But they were certainly not short of courage and never-say-die spirit, even after losing defenders Anthony Gerrard and Craig Pead to injuries.
Their best moment came in the 17th minute when Benjamin and Martin Butler combined to release Harper whose flashing drive from 25 yards flew into the top left-hand corner of the net, with Kevin Pilkington well-beaten.
County always looked capable of scoring, though, and deserved to equalise through Lawrie Dudfield's 41st- minute volley, shortly after Gerrard had been off the field receiving treatment for a head injury.
The Walsall fans were never silenced, however, and when Michael Dobson and Butler worked an opening for Benjamin to win it right in front of them with five minutes left, the noise was deafening.
There followed a long celebration between players and supporters and giant goalkeeper Clayton Ince briefly parted cwith his team-mates to present his gloves to a fan in a wheelchair. You can't over-estimate the contribution Ince has made to the success. Those gloves have made some great saves and interceptions.
Scorers: Harper (17) 0-1, Dudfield (41) 1-1, Benjamin (85) 1-2.
NOTTS COUNTY (4-4-2): Pilkington; Pipe, Edwards, Hunt, McCann; Silk (Ross, 60), Walker (Parkinson, 66), Somner (Weston, 74), Smith; Lee, Dudfield. Substitutes: N'Toya, Byron.
WALSALL (4-4-2): Ince; Pead (Smith, 73), Westwood, Gerrard (Taylor, 46), Fox; Cooper (Wrack, 46), Dobson, Keates, Harper; Butler, Benjamin. Substitutes: Bossu, Sam.
Referee: Kevin A Friend (Leicestershire). Booking: Walsall - Westwood (dissent). Attendance: 7,080.
