David Kelly and Mark Kinsella have emerged as a potential ‘dream ticket’ as Walsall’s new management duo.
The former Republic of Ireland team mates are believed to be in the frame to succeed Richard Money with former midfielder Kinsella acting as assistant to ex-Saddlers striker Kelly.
Walsall insist no talks have been held yet with potential candidates as they look to replace Money, who resigned last week after almost two years at the helm. But it is understood Kelly and Kinsella may be interested in a return to their former club.
Kelly, aged 42, has maintained a low profile since confirming his interest in the job during an assignment as a radio pundit on the day of Money’s departure.
But the former Republic of Ireland striker, who made his name as a player during a prolific spell at Fellows Park in the late 1980s, would be a popular choice with fans.
He scored 63 goals in 115 starts for the club between 1983 and 1987 after signing from non-league Alvechurch. And his 27 goals in the League and play-offs fired the Saddlers into the equivalent of the Championship under Tommy Coakley in the 1987-88 season.
He moved to West Ham for £600,000 weeks after the club clinched promotion and went on to represent Leicester, Newcastle, Wolves, Sunderland, Tranmere, Sheffield United, Motherwell and Mansfield.
And he played for the Republic in the 1990 World Cup finals. He has built a solid reputation as a coach, having served an apprenticeship t Tranmere before working as assistant manager to Neil Warnock at Sheffield United and Billy Davies at Preston and Derby. His appointment would fly in the face of recent Saddlers history as Bonser’s previous appointments have often been unheralded coaches – often with spectacular results.
But reports of his interest are bound to cause at least a flicker of interest among the Saddlers hierarchy. He still lives in the West Midlands, is keen to try his hand at management and has been out of work since he and Davies left Derby earlier this season. The football grapevine is awash with rumours that Kinsella could become Kelly’s assistant. He is currently reserves manager at Charlton but his contract is believed to run out in the summer.
14 Comments
Give him the job.
1) He’d be someone to attract the fans back as he has that cult status
2) He obviously knows Kinsella from his days with EIRE, so the pair must know each other and Kinsell has recent links with the Saddlers
3) He has some superb coaching experience under Warnock and Davies, so has worked with good managers and must have great contacts
My all time favourite Saddlers player, a true legend who always gave 100%.
I would be delighted if he got the job.
Please do something desent for the club mr bonser and sign them both it might persuade me to keep my season ticket.
There’s no doubt that Ned would re-unite a somewhat disillusioned fan base and may increase the season ticket sales( obviously a plus point with Jeef ) but how would he cope with a budget that consists of a used bus ticket, 3 buttons and a 5 centime coin? Ned was the best striker I’ve seen in 32 years as a Saddler and I’d hate to see him fail through the board’s neglect.
Hmm obviously the E + S have been reading the posts I made last week!
They might be both young and relatively inexperinced when it comes to managing and coaching respectively but they will both be hungry for success which is the discipline Dicky seemed to install in the players so effectively for the most part this season. Kinsella also still lives locally, he’s my neighbour in Sutton Coldfield! Bring em on!
David Kelly served the club with distinction during his playing career. I am sure he would be equally successful in management
Peter Taylor is an alternative as he has experiance of bringing the best out of young players and developing them into good players.
He has good contacts in the game that would be useful for bringing in players both on loan and permanent.
He is well respected and once he leaves Stevanage this week will be available & as we could pay a better salary than Stevanage he is affordable.
Why are we always told he would be the fans favourite. He hasn’t been here for over 20 years. Half our fan base now are spotty herberts.
No quotes I notice. Is Kelly bigging himself up for the job again?
By all acounts i am well and trully p$£d off with walsall at the moment.But one way of getting me back and raring for next season would be the dream ticket of kelly and kinsella.After 20 years of being a walsall fan kelly is still one of my heroes.Please bonsor do something for the fans for once and bring them both back
STOP PRESS. The Express and Star has made a mistake. The Chairman is actually interviewing Lorraine Kelly.He believes that targeting the jobless and bored housewives demographic will bring in the revenue required to fund our march on The Championship.
i agree with jon no 8 give peter taylor the job
Would just like to reiterate that bringing in someone like Ned would definitely reignite interest in what has become a depressing situation at Walsall………..
Wouls settle for Taylor, but I think David Kelly and MArk Kinsella would be a great team and I for one would show some interest.
Mr Bonser, do the right thing!
although I would like to see Ned do well in managment he is a hero to all Saddlers fans and I would hate to se him fail and us all end up calling for his head as I fear that Walsall is not a club for anyone to start in managment as JB would run rings around him budget wise as we know once he as spent his budget there would be nothing forth coming. If I were you Ned I wouldkeep well clear until a decent generous chairman takes control