Walsall are exploring whether Jake Hollman can move abroad on loan after Elite Significant Contribution work-permit rules blocked any temporary switch to another English club, with Mat Sadler seeking urgent clarity.
The 24-year-old Australian midfielder has logged just 200 minutes across 6 appearances since arriving from Macarthur FC, and the club is weighing overseas pathways to secure game time while cup fixtures and training keep him sharp.
𝗔𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗮 ➡️ 𝗪𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗹
A warm welcome to Jake Hollman who joins us from A-League side @mfcbulls on a two-year contract! ✍️
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— Walsall FC (@WFCOfficial) July 28, 2025
What Happened and Why It Matters
Head coach Mat Sadler confirmed the Saddlers cannot loan Hollman to an English side under the terms of his ESC permit, pushing Walsall to investigate foreign options. The situation surfaced after a stuttering start to the season for the summer recruit, who missed pre-season while waiting 6 weeks in Sweden for paperwork to clear and has struggled to force his way up the depth chart.
“It’s really difficult because under his ESC work permit, we can’t get him loan minutes [in England],”
Sadler said, adding that the club is actively seeking guidance on what destinations are permissible.
“I honestly don’t know, is the answer to that… even within that, there are some other rules that mitigate certain places. That’s something that I’ve asked Ben [Sadler] to get me some information on.”
Hollman’s last league action was a cameo in the 1-0 home defeat to Grimsby Town on August 19. Since then, competition for midfield minutes has intensified, with Charlie Lakin, Jamie Jellis, Ryan Finnigan, Courtney Clarke and Rico Richards all ahead of him in selection.
Reaction, Impact, and What Comes Next
With domestic loans off the table, Walsall must either identify an overseas club that fits the ESC framework or manage Hollman’s development internally until the January window opens wider avenues. For now, Sadler says training intensity, behind-closed-doors games and the EFL Trophy will be critical to maintaining rhythm.
“So we’re going to have to find it through training and training games, and the EFL Trophy. That’s where things lie at the moment with that.”
Hollman’s adaptation has been complicated by timing and fitness after the protracted move, but staff stress his attitude and application remain exemplary.
“We have to be patient with Jake… He’s one of the hardest workers in terms of how long he stays out there after training.”
An overseas loan would serve multiple purposes: clearing regulatory hurdles, accelerating match sharpness, and returning a more competitive player to the Bescot Stadium set-up later in the season. The challenge is navigating the ESC’s geographic restrictions and ensuring any prospective club offers meaningful minutes. For the Saddlers, the calculus is simple.
Minutes matter, the midfield pecking order is crowded, and a compliant move abroad could unlock an otherwise stalled start. Until clarity lands from the permit specialists, Walsall will keep Hollman close, use available competitions to top up minutes and stay ready to pivot if the right foreign opportunity appears.
