Mat Sadler opens up on Walsall support network that is set up for success
Mat Sadler says he feels 'very fortunate and lucky' to be Walsall manager with the club's structure setting him up for success.
Since US-based ownership group Trivela purchased a majority stake in the Saddlers three years ago, the club have come close to a return to League One.
It seemed assured last season when they sat top of League Two in January, with a 15-point gap to fourth place, before a second half collapse saw them win three matches from 21 and fall out of the automatic promotion spots.
A defeat to Wimbledon in the play-off final then followed, but Walsall have recovered and are top of the league again after 14 games, and Sadler is full of praise for those behind the scenes.
"It's all I've ever known so I definitely feel fortunate," Sadler said.
"By that I mean since I've been a manager that the owners of this football club have been the same.
"So I'm very, very fortunate in that and that's why we're very fortunate as a football club at the moment because I believe we're a good example for how to run things properly and sustainably, whilst also having ambition.
"Those things don't always go hand in hand and that's what we're trying to do here.
"I feel very, very lucky with the job that I have.
"I come to work every morning, fully fully focused on the weekend games, on the Tuesday night games. The job's hard enough as it is, so I have to deal with some of the other stuff."
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