Mat Sadler issues "stick together" message after Walsall's play-off heartbreak

Walsall, who occupied top spot in League Two for 119 days, eventually missed out on automatic promotion altogether, as Bradford City pipped them to the post with a last-gasp winner against Fleetwood Town earlier this month. 

The Saddlers recovered to reach the play-off final after beating Chesterfield 4-1 on aggregate in a thrilling semi-final tie. 

However, Walsall crumbled on the big stage, falling to a 1-0 defeat against AFC Wimbledon at Wembley. 

That has consigned the Saddlers to a seventh successive season in the EFL's basement division, but Sadler feels the resilience of the group will help them move forward.

"Togetherness doesn't come just when it's easy. Togetherness is borne out of being together and showing resilience in those tough moments," the Walsall boss said.

"We've showed loads of that over and over again. We saw that in the second half of the season. We know we didn't get enough wins as we wanted to but we got loads of hard-earned, grafted points, to make sure we tried to move things on. 

"The guys never gave in, kept going and that's a trait and a quality of the group that takes you a long way. 

"Unfortunately, it didn't take us as far as we wanted to go but the job now is to put it back together and make it better." 

Walsall are braced for a summer rebuild, with no fewer than 13 players out of contract and a further seven loan players returning to their parent clubs. 

The club's released and retained list is expected to be published on Saturday morning, as they prepare to enter a new cycle in Sadler's third summer at the helm. 

Players and staff looked visibly heartbroken when they trudged through the mixed zone at Wembley shortly after the full-time whistle. 

And Sadler admitted that no words would lift the mood after such a devastating defeat. But he still paid tribute to the characters in his squad, some of whom he conceded 'will move on' and others who 'will remain'. 

"There's a natural end isn't there? The season is finished and it was just about making sure everyone knows how proud I am of the group and how proud I am of everybody," he added.

"Through good decisions, through bad decisions, through good moments and bad moments. 

"Everyone stuck together and it was making sure that we reflected on that and remembered that. 

"I'm sure lots of the words went in one ear and out of the other because everyone was so disappointed and heartbroken. 

"Let's be fair about it. Everyone put so much into it, everyone's families and everyone's friends. 

"Wembley is the best place to win and the worst place to lose. So words sometimes go out of the window, but I will always reflect on the incredible people that are at this football club. 

"Many of whom will remain and some of them will move on. For that, my thanks will go out to them for everything they've given. 

"They've given so much and created so many memories and magical moments. It's filled me with a lot of pride to work with them."