Ex-Walsall head coach Mat Sadler seals new job in Belgium

Former Walsall head coach Mat Sadler has joined Belgian side Lommel SK as their new assistant coach.

The 41-year-old has joined the technical staff of head coach Lee Johnson with immediate effect and has penned a one-year deal.

Sadler spent over two-and-a-half years at Bescot and was dismissed in March following a run of just two wins in his final 14 league games.

He spent three years on the coaching staff at Walsall, before replacing Michael Flynn as head coach in May 2023.

Walsall finished 11th in his debut season at the helm in 2023-24 and cruised into a 12-point lead at the League Two summit midway into his second campaign.

That included a club record run of nine consecutive league wins - while Walsall also reached the League Cup third round for the first time in nine years in 2024.

However, a dramatic promotion collapse was followed by a 1-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon in the play-off final at Wembley.

Sadler once again inspired Walsall to the top of the table by Christmas last term, but they eventually slumped to a 13th-place finish under both himself and later interim head coach Darren Byfield.

In total, Sadler took charge of 161 games as Walsall head coach - finishing with a 41.6 per cent win rate with a record of 67 wins, 42 draws and 52 losses.

He was also the longest-serving Walsall boss since Dean Smith, who spent nearly five years in the job at Bescot.

Owned by the City Football Group, who also own Manchester City, Lommel achieved promotion back to the Belgian top-flight after a 23-year absence via the play-offs last season.

This will be the first time Sadler has worked abroad across both his playing and managerial career.