Job speculation 'part of football' - Sadler

Mat Sadler has won 36 and lost 25 of his 82 games in charge of Walsall

Walsall head coach Mat Sadler has said speculation linking him with other clubs is "just part of football" and he is "very aware" of the job he has at the Poundland Bescot Stadium.

Sadler has guided Walsall to the top of League Two this season, with a 1-0 win against Barrow stretching their lead over second-placed Port Vale to four points.

The Saddlers' form has led to the 39-year-old being linked in some reports to the vacancies at Championship club Millwall and League One Northampton Town.

But Sadler said he is not paying much attention to it all.

"I think that's just part of football, people talk," Sadler told BBC Radio WM. "We've got a hell of a job to do here and I'm really enjoying it, that's the main thing.

"People do well and other things get said about them - that's the case and I hope that's the case for my players too. But it's just part of it. For me, I'm very aware of the job I've got to do here."

Sadler replaced Michael Flynn as Walsall boss in May 2023, and steered the club to an 11th-placed finish in his first season, five points outside the play-offs.

This term the Saddlers are leading the charge for promotion, topping the table with 40 points having won 12 and lost only three of their 19 games.

Their current 10-match unbeaten run guarantees them top spot at Christmas, ahead of fixtures against Doncaster Rovers, Newport County and Notts County over the festive and New Year period.

"I say, 'it's all about the next one' and I don't really care in some sense about what's gone before but clearly I do because it's picked us up points," Sadler added.

"But I don't think it has a bearing on the next thing.

"We won't be getting promoted at Christmas - that doesn't happen and I'll keep batting that back. Forty points doesn't get you promoted.

"We've got a lot of work to do and we've done all right to get to where we are now and we've just got to keep working."