Birmingham City striker Troy Deeney has emerged as a surprise candidate for the vacant Walsall job, according to BirminghamLive.
The Saddlers parted ways with former manager Michael Flynn last month and are now looking for a new permanent manager for next season. Deeney is the latest shock name to be rumoured for the job, with the 34-year-old out of contract with the Blues at the end of the season.
Who Is Troy Deeney?
The former Watford icon is well known for his scoring ability as a player and even has a history with Walsall. Most famous for his winning goal in Watford’s playoff win to Leicester, the striker has scored 200 goals across his playing career.
Now at Championship side Birmingham, the distance between his current club and the rumoured job is merely 10 miles.
Is Deeney Still Playing?
Deeney signed with the Blues at the beginning of last season and has gone on to score 11 league goals in 54 appearances. His contract is set to run up after the season, however, the club has the option for a one-year extension and has offered the player a new deal.
If Birmingham wishes to trigger the option, it would keep Deeney at the Blues for another season.
No Experience Needed
As the Englishman is still a current player, we have no previous managerial experience to go off on with Deeney. The two parties do have previous connections with each other, as Deeney played for the Saddlers for four years, giving him his first opportunity in the Football League.
With no experience as a manager, however, Walsall would have to do their due diligence to make sure he is capable of the role.
Writer’s View
For all we know, Birmingham has the power to keep Deeney for another season in the Championship, so the link to a managerial job is very shocking.
While Deeney has no experience to go off of, as a player he has always been seen as a leader in the dressing room and regularly wears the captain’s armband. Coming in as a manager, he could positively use those leadership skills, however, I see it as an extremely risky appointment on Walsall’s behalf.
