Walsall has confirmed that former player and coach Richard O’Kelly, will return to the club for the remainder of the season to assist interim Head Coach Mathew Slater in a statement on the club’s website.
After sacking former manager Michael Flynn for guiding just one league win in their last 20 games, the Saddlers have already started to change their backroom staff with the addition of O’Kelly.
In a previous club statement, news had been announced that Mat Sadler will take charge of the first team for their final three matches of the season, and he will now have a well-experienced coach alongside him.
The 66-year-old has plenty of history with Walsall after four separate spells with the club. Originally playing 216 times as a player across the 1970s and 80s, O’Kelly also had two spells as assistant manager to former boss Dean Smith.
With strong ties to the current Leicester manager Smith, O’Kelly has been his right-hand man for many years. Starting their relationship together at Walsall in 2012, O’Kelly followed Smith through the ranks as they got to Premier League club Aston Villa.
After a successful time together which included a 2-1 victory in the Championship playoff final, the former player left his role with Villa in 2021, where he has been without a role since.
He will be joining a Walsall side that will be looking to close the book on this season after falling to 15th in the League Two table.
Writer’s View
For a Walsall side that has seen their form drop dramatically over the last few months, this appointment should give the fans something to cheer about. There is no need to rush bringing in a new permanent manager looking at the club’s current situation, so why not let a man that is well respected by the fanbase steer the ships for the next month.
