3 reasons why Alex Pattison should be the new Walsall captain

Walsall midfielder Alex Pattison will be a key leader next season and a worthy wearer of the armband.

Lee Grant will be tasked with selecting his new club captain following the departure of Jamille Matt - who was among 12 players to be released earlier this month.

Aden Flint, who regularly captained the Saddlers last season, along with stalwarts such as Priestley Farquharson and Brandon Comley will also leave this summer.

That has turned the conversation to: who should be Walsall’s next captain?

And here are three reasons why Pattison should be the favourite.

An honest spokesman

Pattison was among the most vocal regarding the Saddlers’ promotion collapse last term and has vowed to be a “driving force” for change.

Of course, action speaks louder than words, but his performances in the latter part of the campaign suggested that he is also capable of walking the walk.

There has been an argument to suggest that Walsall have been guilty of being too nice at times in recent years and honesty is the best policy for whoever is tasked with captaining the team next season.

Importance felt by his absence

Pattison has admitted himself that it took him time to hit his stride with Walsall following his winter arrival.

He impressed on his debut: registering an assist for Daniel Kanu in a 3-1 victory at Tranmere Rovers in January.

However, he had to fight his way back into the team under former interim head coach Darren Byfield.

He duly stepped up to the challenge with a pair of promising cameos from the bench against Crewe Alexandra and Cambridge United in March.

That was followed by an excellent display and a memorable 97th-minute winner against Newport County to end the Saddlers’ eight-match winless run on home soil.

A hamstring injury in a draw against Gillingham on Good Friday left Walsall without his services for the next three games.

They subsequently lost 2-1 at Swindon Town and 4-0 at home to Cheltenham Town to end their faint play-off hopes.

Previous promotion experience

After getting a taste for promotion with Bradford City in 2025, Pattison is eager to repeat that feat with Walsall.

The midfielder played a critical role for the Bantams - scoring seven goals and setting up three more in just 30 games to propel them to automatic promotion.

He also won the League One play-offs with Wycombe Wanderers in 2020 albeit having played a much more limited role.

One question mark: can Pattison stay fit?

There is no doubting that Pattison has star quality when fit.

The challenge next season will be for Pattison to keep himself out of the treatment room.

That was what ultimately marred parts of his spell with Bradford and injuries have also interrupted his first few months at Bescot.