Walsall have confirmed that head coach Mat Sadler has committed his future to the club by signing a new long-term deal lasting until 2028.
The 39-year-old has become one of the most sought-after young coaches in English football in recent weeks. Having guided Walsall to the top of League Two, where they currently hold a 10 point lead, he had caught the attention of the likes of Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Northampton Town.
Reports emerged yesterday that Plymouth were the latest club to be knocked back in their pursuit former defender, leading them to continue their search for Wayne Rooney’s permanent successor elsewhere.
The Saddlers have won their last seven League Two games and are unbeaten in 14, having last tasted defeat at the beginning of October. As such, their lead looks almost unsurmountable, especially considering they have played fewer games than the teams immediately below them.
“Easy Decision”
With Sadler attracting attention elsewhere, Walsall have taken the decision to tie him down to the club on a longer deal. Speaking to official club media, the head coach admitted it was an easy decision:
“It was an easy decision to get a new deal sorted. I want to continue the hard work that we’re putting in and we should be proud at this football club of the owners we have who want to continue to build and grow for the future.
“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 and that’s where we want to grow and build from and this is just a continuation of that.”
Writer’s View
It was inevitable that Walsall were going to act with all the attention and speculation directed at Mat Sadler. He is an exciting young manager who clearly has a big future in the game. He will feel that he needs to complete the job he started at the Poundland Bescot Stadium before he sets his sights elsewhere though. Top of the agenda will be returning the club to League One for the first time since 2019.
This is a huge boost for the Saddlers and they can now continue the rest of the season safe in the knowledge that they are protected should any other clubs from higher divisions come knocking.
