Former Walsall and Shrewsbury Town boss set for Everton academy

Former Walsall and Shrewsbury Town boss Matt Taylor is reportedly set for a return to the game with Premier League Everton.

Taylor, 44, is said to be in talks with the Hill Dickenson Stadium club about a role in their academy.

The former Portsmouth, Bolton and West Ham midfielder spent nine months at the helm of the Saddlers between June 2021 and the following February.

Taylor was dismissed at Bescot following seven successive defeats with the club mired in 21st in League Two, just four points clear of the drop zone.

From there, Taylor spent seven months at the helm at Shrewsbury between June 2023 and January 2024.

He succeeded Steve Cotterill at Croud Meadow and was Shrewsbury’s first head coach, as opposed to manager.

A run of seven defeats in eight games, with Town 19th in League One, saw Taylor dismissed.

After his exit from Shrewsbury, the former Premier League man was appointed at Wealdstone in the National League, where his spell lasted until January of that season before a move to Solihull.

Taylor’s time at Solihull continued until last September, but a winless start to last season and just four wins in 26 games overall saw him dismissed.

Everton are undergoing a makeover of their academy, with former Shrewsbury and Villa defender David Hughes appointed under-21s boss.