Mat Sadler backed to "learn" from challenging Walsall period by his ex-boss
Paul Hurst says Walsall boss Mat Sadler would've "learned a hell of a lot" about himself amid the challenges he faced in the dugout last term.
Sadler propelled Walsall to the League Two summit in early December 2024, where they stayed for 119 days, after a 16-match unbeaten run, which featured a club record nine-match winning streak.
Walsall capitulated in the second half of the campaign and missed out on automatic promotion on the final day following a dismal run of three wins in 21 games.
They offered a brief reprieve by beating Chesterfield 4-1 over two legs in a thrilling play-off semi-final, but lost to AFC Wimbledon 1-0 at Wembley in the final on May 26.
The 40-year-old is still in the managerial hotseat ahead of his third campaign, and his former Shrewsbury Town boss feels Sadler has still made a bright start in management, despite the disappointment of losing out on promotion.
"I'm sure Mat has learned a hell of a lot from that experience and he'll be disappointed himself because he wants to succeed. But for a start in management, it's not a bad one," Hurst said.
"I can understand the frustration, but the reality is that anyone would've snapped your hand off if they had been given that scenario at the start of the season.
"We're still in touch, I actually went to the final and I saw him very briefly afterwards. It was not really the time to have a conversation so it was only a brief interlude.
"Mat is a good guy and you want people like that to succeed."
Sadler will begin preparations for next season when his Walsall kick-off pre-season with a trip to National League North outfit Leamington on Tuesday night.
