Walsall Aim for Promotion in League Two
Walsall, a club without a taste of promotion in 17 years, is hoping to change its fortunes under the guidance of manager Mat Sadler. The 39-year-old, who had two spells as a player at the club, is determined to instill a new culture of ambition and improvement at the Bescot Stadium.
Last season, Walsall finished 11th in League Two, their highest position in the table for eight years. Sadler, who played in the Premier League for Birmingham City, is drawing on his past experiences to transform the team’s mindset.
“I felt like the club, and I was probably part of this, had become one where the ambition of the players wasn’t quite there,” Sadler tells Sky Sports. “I want to reverse that, I want this to be a place where, as it was under Dean Smith, people come to improve, people come to get better every day.”
Sadler has identified a group of senior professionals, including captain Donervon Daniels and experienced midfielder Brandon Comley, who are tasked with setting the tone and driving the standards at the club. The manager also highlighted the additions of Jamie Jellis and Connor Barrett from non-League, as well as Ryan Stirk and Charlie Lakin from Birmingham City, as players who are “desperate to get better.”
Despite facing challenges early in the season, such as injuries and the retirement of Chris Hussey, Walsall showed progress from December onwards, finishing just five points outside the playoff places. Sadler is confident that the continuity of having many key players from last season’s squad will help the club take the next step.
“It is still a work in progress, but I want us to be a work in progress, striving to get better all the time, not being happy with where we are at,” Sadler says. “I am desperate to give [the supporters] something to shout about. To see those smiles on people’s faces, that is what motivates me every day.”
Walsall fans will be able to follow their team’s journey more closely this season, with the club’s matches featuring on the Sky Sports app at least 20 times thanks to the EFL’s new partnership with the network.
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