Walsall on the hunt for permanent replacement after sacking head coach Matt Sadler

Walsall are on the hunt for a permanent replacement after sacking head coach Matt Sadler, ending his tenure after nearly three years in charge.

Sadler guided Walsall to the League Two Playoff Final last season, but lost to AFC Wimbledon. His side also had been top for majority of the campaign, only to bottle it towards the end.

Again, having been top for parts of it this season, they have fallen away, currently 11th, 3 points from the playoff places.

Walsall Football Club have today parted company with Men’s First Team Head Coach Mat Sadler, bringing an end to his tenure after nearly three years in charge.

— Walsall FC (@WFCOfficial) March 11, 2026

CLUB STATEMENT:

Walsall Football Club have today parted company with Men’s First Team Head Coach Mat Sadler, bringing an end to his tenure after nearly three years in charge.

Appointed in May 2023, Mat notably guided the Saddlers to the 2024/25 League Two play off final, a campaign that also included a club record nine consecutive league victories.

Mat’s time as Head Coach also featured a series of memorable cup runs. During his first season in 2023/24, we reached the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, where we were beaten by Premier League opposition Southampton.

The following season brought further standout moments, with the Saddlers defeating League One opposition on multiple occasions, including Bolton Wanderers in the Emirates FA Cup along with Exeter City and Huddersfield Town in the Carabao Cup, before holding Premier League Leicester City to a 0–0 draw in front of a packed Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium, eventually losing out on penalties.

This season, we again reached the third round of the Emirates FA Cup, where we were knocked out by Championship side Norwich City.

As Head Coach, across 158 competitive games, Mat achieved the highest win percentage of any Walsall Manager/Head Coach in over 25 years, along with overseeing the development and progression of numerous young players who made a significant impact within the Men’s First Team and subsequently earned moves higher up the pyramid.

Mat’s connection to Walsall spans more than a decade. As a player, he made over 90 appearances across two spells at WS1, before returning as a coach and later stepping into the Head Coach role. His professionalism, character and commitment have been evident throughout every chapter of his association with the Club.

Co Chairman Ben Boycott said: “I would like to take the opportunity to acknowledge the significant efforts and contributions of Mat, both as a professional and as a person, during his time at the Club. We thank him for his dedicated service and wish him the very best for the future.”

At this time, Darren Byfield will take interim charge of the team with the immediate focus on Saturday’s fixture against Crewe Alexandra, supported by Terry Connor and the rest of the Club’s backroom staff.

The Club will be working through the next steps and shall provide further updates regarding a new Head Coach in due course.

Sadler said in his final interview: “I thought it was a really poor game of football.

“The pitch was dreadful and that’s what their games have been like here for the last way month or so. They’ve had to go things their way because of the pitch. I thought, first 25 minutes, we played our way with that, but we just needed to play into that area of the pitch because to play football I need is very difficult.

“So, I just thought it was a poor game of football, that one moment that really came in it. We didn’t defend and that’s what cost you the points.”

Football League World have listed Darren Moore, Lee Grant and Noel Hunt as potential managerial candidates.

“Borini, surely!!!” 🎙️

The match-winning strike from Fabio Borini on his 400th career appearance 🎯 pic.twitter.com/gaRzT9U7Ch

— Salford City FC (@SalfordCityFC) March 11, 2026

Here’s how fans reacted with Walsall on the hunt for a permanent replacement after sacking head coach Matt Sadler…

@WFCBagnall: Not saying Mat was perfect, but you failed him three years in a row @TrivelaGroup. He got you to where you wanted us to be twice in a year and you never backed him properly to finally get this club a promotion.

@edward_w97: Sadler’s Saddlers is over. Painful watching that collapse last season. Pipped to 3rd on final day, nail their Semi-Final with Chesterfield only to then lose at Wembley. The killer is another drop-off this season. League leaders on Boxing Day, just 2 wins since, now sat 11th…

@KamCavanagh: Sadler had done a far better job than I, and most others, had imagined but it was clear he’d taken us as far as he could. Ultimately, he wasn’t able to match the increased expectations set under his management. Expectations that probably would’ve seen us promoted. Clearly a decent bloke and I wish him the best wherever he ends up next, but a change needed to happen. Let’s hope we can finish the season on a high.

@MattDVale: We had a coach with genuine connections to the club. His young players played well and attracted interest. We won loads of football matches. We were hardly outside the top one, let alone the top seven. Yet it felt like I was being repeatedly punched in the stomach. It was time.

@SirSebastian20: He’s probably the best manager you’ve had since relegation in fairness, but just wasn’t good enough to get you over the line.

@graingerrrrr: When the dust settles I hope we remember the times he gave us. Ended ugly, but he’s overseen some unbelievable days in the last few years. Hope it works out somewhere else

@mvpcarlos: Sad day. Yet he’s not achieved the goal and arguably responsibility lies with him. But he loved the club. Was professional and got 2 different groups of players playing well in 2 different times. I wish him all the best

@NicktheSaddler: Can we please have a “decent” Manager who gets us back to basics in actually playing any sort of passing free flowing exciting, posession football. No more dross hoofball / sadlerball. A decent name at this level or above. Pay the damn money. Not another 1st timer risk.

@NathanH58509101: Finally, way to late but better late than never. Only issue now is the fact we have @TrivelaGroup making the decision on our next manager and I have zero trust in them. @TrivelaGroup @bensadler12 Prove me wrong

@Fobba1988: Actually quite sad. Would’ve loved him to succeed. When it was good it was good, unfortunately when it was bad it was very very bad – awful, inflexible football without results. I don’t know where we go from here 🤷🏻‍♂️

@Saddlersgirl1: Too late.. Should have been gone last season!!

@saddler_andy: There should be no joy from this, though probably the right decision. He has himself to blame for not securing promotion after last season. But… I look at Robinson, Cowley etc achieving less on a much higher budget.

@LB_WFC: Club was on its arse & not my choice for manager but ultimately he’s fell victim to his own success. Wish him all the best and hopefully he gets supported better financially in his next role rather than being let down by tragic January windows.