Taylor Allen praises "transformational" Mat Sadler after Walsall award

The Cannock-born defender swept up a hat-trick of club awards at the 2024-25 ceremony on Sunday night - including the Player of the Season gong. 

Allen has enjoyed another stellar campaign for the Saddlers, scoring 10 goals and making eight assists in 54 appearances across all competitions. 

He was also named in the PFA League Two team of the year alongside fellow Walsall teammate Connor Barrett and Allen took the opportunity to pay tribute to his under-fire manager.

"Yes he has been [transformational for my career]," Allen declared.

"From when he was first here as a coach and then transitioning to the manager, there has always been a clear communication towards me. 

"He has really helped me in terms of changing positions and being a leader towards the team." 

Sadler has come under scrutiny after Walsall blew a 12-point lead at the League Two summit in January and fell out of the automatic promotion places altogether. 

Walsall collected just three wins from their final 21 games, and lost out on third spot in heartbreaking fashion on the final day, after Bradford City scored a 96th-minute winner against Fleetwood Town. 

But Allen reiterated just how far the club has come over the course of his three seasons at Bescot and is confident that they can still achieve promotion.

"That's the main thing I feel is that we have to understand where we have been, even since I arrived three years ago to where we are now," he added.

"I understand that the perspective might be a little bit different because of the way the season has gone. But we can still achieve something and that is the biggest thing for us as a club, the players, the staff and the fans."