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Walsall co-owner Ben Boycott and manager Mat Sadler react after falling short of promotion

Walsall co-owner Ben Boycott and manager Mat Sadler react after falling short of promotion following defeat in the playoff final.

Boycott described the team and supporters as “gutted” but emphasised resilience, stating the club would “pick ourselves up and go again” next season.

Monday’s result made it even more painful for Walsall, after being 12 points clear at the top of the table in mid-January and 15 clear of fourth place, then just three wins in their final 21 games meant they had to settle for a spot in the play-offs.

Boycott offered emotional support to the players but noted there were no words to ease the immediate pain.

Sadler highlighted the team’s heartbreak but stressed the club’s progress despite losing key players mid-season.

He praised the young squad’s resilience and commitment, acknowledging a lack of energy in the first half of the decisive game but expressing pride in their efforts.

Sadler urged using the pain of watching the opposition’s celebrations as motivation, stressing the need to rest, recover, and prepare for another push next season.

Co-owner Ben Boycott said on ITV: “I am not going to get into any stuff about next year for now, we are still processing.

“At the end of the day, we are going to bed tonight and get up tomorrow and then go all-in for getting ready for next year.

“We are going to pick ourselves up and go again.”

Asked about his own emotions after the game, Boycott replied: “We’re gutted. Everyone around the club will be. I have been in there with everyone (in the dressing room) for the last half-an-hour.

“Everyone, from supporters to players, all of us are absolutely gutted.

“What did I say to them? Honestly, nothing. I have put my arms round them and given them all a hug but there is not much to say at a moment like this.”

Sadler, who has been in charge for the past two seasons, insisted the club had moved forward this season despite the disappointment at falling short of promotion.

He said: “We certainly have moved the club forward. I think that is undoubted. Clearly, we had a good lead in the mid-season and we lost some really good players.

“The only thing for me is can we recruit a bit better at times? But that is not very easy as well and I am not going to go through all the things which happened in that January window but that part was not to be.

“We certainly have moved the club forward and I won’t be swayed at all with that. We have created many, many happy memories and good memories and put smiles on people’s faces.

“For me, they will be lifelong memories. We did not quite have enough to see the job through but we will go again and we will come back and go again next year.”

Walsall manager Mat Sadler speaking to Sky Sports:

“The lads are heartbroken, we’re all heartbroken because we put so much into the season. Everyone was fully committed, they gave everything, we’re heartbroken as a group.

“I couldn’t more proud to lead this group. They’ve been unbelievable through every step of the journey. They’ve got so much resilience for such a young group.

“We knew that it was going to be a very tight game and that one bit of quality sealed the game. We had half moments that came out way, there weren’t loads in the game. I thought first half we were not our usual energetic self, we wanted to get in at half-time and move that forward and I think the players were feeling that as well.

“Obviously, it’s devastating we couldn’t give the supporters the outcome we wanted and we’ll have to reset and go again and hopefully give them more moments to be proud of.”

Speaking to the assembled media, he added, per Express & Star: “You have to use these things as motivation and fuel.

“When you are stood there and watching their celebrations, it is like a slow torture if you are not the one celebrating.

“Again that fire and emotion is very raw, let’s use it for a positive. Overall, I have to be so proud of the group.

“They showed up and came every day with attitude of a group that you will not always find in the game. It is the same with the staff.

“The big overall feeling for me was pride in what they have done, how they have moved the place forward, how we have moved the club forward.

“Now it is rest, recover. We have got a taste and we will go again.”

Here’s what fans had to say as Walsall co-owner Ben Boycott and manager Mat Sadler react after falling short of promotion…

@kingsmithy7: I think he knows he’s done for. The way he spoke in that

@PoundlandReds: Hasn’t “meant to be” since January. Good luck getting the numbers again next season.

@justinbcfc92: Monumental bottle job! Will go down in history as the ultimate bottle jobs! Least you beat us 1.1 though lads

@EdPVFC: Hahahaha keep crying bottle jobs 😂😂😂

@Walsallfantasti: It’s another season in L2, and is Sadler going to take charge. If so, I will be very selective which games I go to next season. Trivela, if you want to keep him, that’s on you But be warned if it’s goes tits up, it won’t be just Sadler head on the block

@thatdanmayguy: We were playing like there was a second leg to fall back on. A disgraceful performance in a game we should never have needed to be in 💔

@BradyWFC93: If that’s how we play when we give out all then fuck me the standards are low. Hopefully you fuck off and half the backroom staff with you. Need a winner to come in with a winning mentality none of this arm over your shoulder bollocks

@danielsw1997: The way you can hear “the Dons are going up” in the background is absolute cinema 🤣🤣😭😭

@CharlieNoakes18: Bore off! You have no self-respect turning up to Wembley in a tracksuit! Lost before it began.

@mikeyp2551: How’s he not been sacked yet. Single handedly cost Walsall promotion after being 18 points clear in January, and plays probably the worst football I’ve ever seen in a final #walsallfc #wba

@joekwfc: Get the interviewer is employed by the club but calling it a progressive season is deluded 🤣 same old shit from Sadler

@SeanyBee86: Mate you failed massively. Not a Walsall fan at all but if I was I’d be absolutely fuming. League was won apparently at Xmas…Bottled it on the final day and also at the play offs 🤫🤫🤫

@MichaelTapper93: Lack of passion today cost. Didn’t turn up in a suit. Players arrived last night when Wimbledon was there Thursday. No desire. 2nd best. Not a clear cut shot on goal. Questions need to be asked. Shit bust

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