'Ticks all the boxes' - new Walsall boss backed for success

Walsall CEO Ben Sadler believes new boss Lee Grant ‘ticks all the boxes’ to help take the club to the next level.

The former goalkeeper and Huddersfield head coach has signed a three-year deal as the permanent successor to Mat Sadler, as Walsall seek to reignite their promotion hopes after losing in the play-off final in May 2025.

The club’s hierarchy have backed Grant to be that man, believing his playing and coaching career to date makes him the perfect candidate.

"We were really clear on what we were looking for, we have a profile we look for, characteristics and top of that list is someone who is fundamentally a good, solid person,” Sadler said.

"We spent a lot of time diving into that with Lee, with people who'd worked with him and for him, and we got a really good feel on that first and foremost.

"You have to be able to have that connection, to be able to build something.

"We spent a lot of time getting to the point where we were really comfortable that we were in the room with someone we could confidently work with.

"It didn't take long in those conversations to establish that.

"Secondly, he had an incredible playing career and a fantastic coaching career so far.

"He's had loads of success in leadership roles when playing and he's played for and worked at some top clubs and been trusted with some real responsibility there.

"Going into coaching, he's had a really successful time at a club that played a front footed, aggressive style of football, which is what we want to do.

"At Huddersfield in a managerial role he got them in the play-offs, had some good cup success.

"There was a track record of really strong performance and outcomes, so when the opportunity was there to bring Lee in, we think he ticks all the boxes we're looking for and it just made sense.”

Walsall were unable to replicate their promotion push last season, finishing 13th in League Two after an initial strong start.

Sadler believes the club is moving in the right direction and promotion is possible if it all comes together.

"We've come a long way since Trivela have been here and in my time here we've been building something,” Sadler added.

"We fell short a couple of years ago, we were very close, but what's happened since then is we've been refining things and making sure where we think we need to add, we've added.

"That is why Stewart has come in and we've added experience, quality and bandwidth to our football division.

"We've got an opportunity to continue to build. We've been progressing and generally moving forward.

"Last season was a disappointment in the end, but we've been building our processes, structures and we now have a really solid group of people.

"If everyone is able to execute their job to the best of their ability, then we absolutely believe we can take that next step and get to League One and then keep pushing.”