[themaclad]

Walsall have appointed former player and assistant coach Mat Sadler as their new head coach.

The 38-year-old took over as interim manager for the Saddlers' final three games of the season following Michael Flynn's sacking on 19 April.

He oversaw one win, one draw and one loss with the team beating Doncaster 2-1 in their last match of the campaign.

Sadler ended his playing career at Walsall and has spent the last three seasons on the club's coaching staff.

"I want to thank everyone who was part of the process for giving me the opportunity and it's not one that I take at all lightly - it's one I have real honour in being asked to do," Sadler said in a club statement.

"It goes without saying that I will give it absolutely everything to make sure it's a success over the coming years."

As a player, the former full-back made more than 575 appearances for clubs such as Birmingham City, Watford, Crawley Town, Shrewsbury Town and Rotherham United.

Sadler spent four years at Walsall over two spells, returning to the club in 2019 and going on to captain the club before moving into a player/coaching role.

He was most recently working as the club's first team coach and has also worked with the club's academy.

"I believe in who he is and who he can become as a football professional, I believe in who he is as a leader, and most importantly I believe in who he is as a man with high integrity, outstanding grit and determination, and strong personal values which match the culture that we are trying to build at Walsall FC," said co-chairman Ben Boycott.

"I am confident that Mat is the right man, given his values, his resolve, his ambition, and his abilities, to partner with us in building this future, and that he can continue to grow as a coach as we grow as a club."

[themaclad]

Walsall boss Mat Sadler has signed a new contract to run until the summer of 2028.

The 39-year-old has guided the Saddlers to the top of League Two this season and they are currently 10 points clear of Crewe Alexandra and Salford City.

Sadler had two spells with the club as a player and was appointed head coach in May 2023 after a period in interim charge following Michael Flynn's sacking.

"It was an easy decision to get a new deal sorted," he told the club website., external

"I want to continue the hard work that we're putting in. It's a very stable football club, which can't be said about a lot in this country.

"My belief is that success comes with that stable footing, that's where we want to grow and build from and this is just a continuation of that."

Walsall have won their past seven league games and are unbeaten in 14, a run stretching back to early October.

They are hoping to return to League One next season after six years in the fourth tier.

Sadler's efforts had seen him linked to several vacancies elsewhere - the latest as successor to Wayne Rooney at Championship side Plymouth Argyle.

But he dismissed speculation about his future last month, insisting he had a "hell of a job" at Walsall.

"Mat is an outstanding professional and an excellent, thoughtful coach," said co-chairman Ben Boycott.

"Most importantly, he is an outstanding person of high integrity, who clearly demonstrates every day the values and character that we want to define the culture at the football club."

Following the postponement of their 4 January game at Cheltenham Town, Walsall return to action at the Poundland Bescot Stadium on Saturday against struggling Tranmere Rovers.


Meanwhile, striker Reyes Cleary has returned to West Bromwich Albion at the end of his loan spell.

The 20-year-old made seven appearances for the Saddlers and scored one goal, against Shrewsbury Town in the EFL Trophy.