Matt Taylor: I was too slow to adapt as Walsall boss
Matt Taylor admitted he was too tied to his footballing philosophy during his spell in charge at Walsall.
The 41-year-old, speaking at his first press conference as the new head coach of Shrewsbury Town, said he has learned lessons from his time in charge of Walsall saying he ‘believed in his philosophy too much’.
Taylor, who left Walsall in February 2022, has spent the last 18 months reflecting on how he can become a better coach, and being more ‘adaptable’ is something he feels he can do having had time to reflect.
He said: “I didn’t value winning as much as I do now.
“I believed in my philosophy too much. So moving forwards what has that taught me?
“Well, be more adaptable. I will only be judged like any League One manager or coach up and down the country – by results.
“The philosophy and the way that we play underpins that, there has to be an understanding of that but it cannot be everything.
“I think if I look back at the tough times at Walsall is that I did not change quickly enough because I was too set on something that I thought had got us out of trouble and we had huge success with before.
“So for me now, I am far more self-aware because I have had time to reflect. At the time I did not want the time as I wanted to be back in work, but when I look back at it now it was a period where it was extremely difficult
“So then it was a case of what can I do to make me better so that when the next opportunity comes around I am in a better spot and a better position as that is what I have done. Constant reflection and learning.
“I have spent 18 months doing the LMA (League Manager’s Association) diploma, did I need to? Probably not, but it makes me better and that is what it was about.
“So that when this role came about I am better placed to succeed.”
n Former Walsall right-back Hayden White has joined National League outfit Ebbsfleet United.
White joined Walsall in 2020 and played 121 times for the club across all competitions.
He was released by the Saddlers at the end of the past season, and arrives at Ebbsfleet, fresh off the back of their National League South title-winning campaign.
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