Michael Flynn: Walsall appoint former Newport County boss as head coach

Michael Flynn had a 17-year playing career that included spells at Newport, Bradford, Wigan and Huddersfield

Walsall have appointed former Newport County boss Michael Flynn as their new head coach on a contract until 2024.

The 41-year-old replaces ex-Portsmouth midfielder Matt Taylor, who was sacked by the League Two club on 9 February.

Flynn, who spent four and a half years at Newport before leaving in October, takes charge of a Saddlers side that are 18th in the table, six points above the relegation zone.

"I can't wait to get going - it's a fantastic club," Flynn said.

"It is a club that wants to go in the right direction and that was key for me.

"I am bringing in togetherness. Every single team that I have been a part of, there has been a real togetherness."

Under Flynn, Newport reached two League Two play-off finals and avoided relegation in his first season in caretaker charge in March 2017, having taken over when they were 11 points adrift of safety.

Walsall have also announced the departure of Neil McDonald, who won his only game in temporary charge against Tranmere on Saturday, following the dismissal of Taylor after a run of seven successive defeats.

Flynn's first game in charge will be at League Two leaders Forest Green Rovers on Saturday.

'A far better fit for Walsall' - Analysis

BBC Radio WM's Rob Gurney

On the face of it, this appointment looks a far better fit for Walsall than the previous two incumbents.

Far more experience, and coming with a reputation of turning the fortunes of one particular club - Newport County - completely around.

When he took over in March 2017, they were 11 points adrift of safety in League Two, but survived, and by the time he left in October 2021, they'd been in the play-offs, twice, and faced the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City in the FA Cup.

Flynn says he's "bringing in togetherness" - a commodity that there's been precious little evidence of at Walsall in recent times.

A fans' protest outside the stadium, before, ironically, their first win in eight matches, was testament to that pervasive feeling of disunity.

The slender four-point cushion to the bottom two, when Matt Taylor was sacked last week, became a slightly more healthy six points with the victory over Tranmere.

But Flynn's start could not be any tougher. Forest Green Rovers are the class of the field in that division, and at time of writing are 11 points clear at the top.

He'll need more than a slice or two of luck, you fancy, to get off to a flyer there.