Local connection is key for Walsall boss Mat Sadler
Mat Sadler believes Richard O’Kelly’s appointment as associate director is a clear example of the direction the club wants to go in.
O’Kelly, who made over 250 appearances for Walsall as a player, also helped guide the club to the Football League Trophy final in 2015 as Dean Smith’s assistant.
He had spells at Brentford and Villa, before most recently returning to Walsall as Sadler’s assistant for the final three matches of last season.
And the Walsall boss wants to continue to harness the local connections at the club.
He said: “That’s important and we want to reflect that in the players we have in the football club as well.
“We have people like Jamille, Knowles and Foulkes, who all have connections to the football club.
“Jackson (Smith) is just around the corner, Stirk lives in Tamworth and Taylor is a local lad.
“There’s loads of local connections at the football club, which we think it important.”
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