O'Kelly a 'unique' ally, says Walsall boss Sadler

Ex-Walsall player and assistant manager Richard O'Kelly was brought back to the club by co-chairman Ben Boycott in April

Walsall have made changes on and off the field this summer as they bid to put behind them the disappointment of missing out on League Two promotion.

After climbing into the top seven on the back of a six-game winning run, Mat Sadler's Saddlers then won just three out of the last 11 matches, losing four of their last five, to miss out on the play-offs by five points.

It was all still good enough an effort to earn head coach Sadler and his experienced assistant, much-travelled 62-year-old Gary Waddock, each a new contract.

There have been some changes, with goalkeeping coach Dan Watson being replaced by Dan Still and a new chief executive, Ben Sadler, arriving from Morecambe. There have also been five new signings.

But one of the key moments of all their activity happened in April when Walsall brought back a Saddlers legend, 67-year-old Richard O'Kelly to the board.

“It was very smart of Ben Boycott to introduce Richard O’Kelly to the board," Sadler told BBC Radio WM. "He’s a sounding board for me.

“Maybe before there wasn’t that person at this club who’s seen it all and done it.

“I’m fortunate to have him as a friend, as well as being someone who is close to the club. He’s there to advise the board on football matters and it was a really smart thing to do by the football club."

O'Kelly, who had two spells as a Saddlers striker, chiefly from 1979 to 1986, had last been at Walsall for the second of his spells as assistant manager to Dean Smith in 2015, before following him first to Brentford then Aston Villa.

But chairman Boycott seconded him as a new think-tank - and Sadler is grateful for the extra input as he tries to chart a return to English football's third tier for the first time since 2019.

"He's an incredible person," added Sadler. "His philosophy and mentality and the way he goes about things with people is the way I like to do things.

“Anyone who has had the pleasure of spending any time with him, which is a lot of guys at Walsall down the years, you know you’re in the presence of a unique person.

"Every time he comes, be brings me a new book. The latest was on the All Blacks legacy. But it's the second time he's given it me!"

Walsall still have pre-season friendlies to come against fellow Midlands sides Alvechurch, Villa, Tamworth, Birmingham City and Solihull and a four-day training camp in the Republic of Ireland and a game against Drogheda.

They open next season at home to Morecambe on Saturday, 10 August.

Mat Sadler was talking to BBC Radio WM's Daz Hale.