Sadler 'very happy' with Walsall transfer business

Mat Sadler has been in charge of Walsall since May 2023 following a short period in interim control

Walsall head coach Mat Sadler says he is "very happy" with the club's transfer business this summer and is now looking forward to planning for the rest of the year without the threat of players leaving.

The Saddlers brought in 15 new players since the end of last season - including deadline-day loans Jid Okeke and Rico Richards.

Despite losing two new recruits - Bournemouth loan striker Jonny Stuttle and versatile defender Mason Hancock to knee injuries in the same game, five matches into the season - Sadler says he has "got to be pleased" with what he has been able to do in the window.

"I'm very happy," he told BBC Radio WM.

"It's been a lot of work over the last three months. We've had to rebuild everything and not start again, but very much put a squad together - so that's been really tough.

"There's been loads to pivot and adjust to as things have gone on but I think we've put a decent squad together with loads of options in terms of how we want to play and hurt teams, so I've got to be pleased."

Walsall signings cover every area of the squad, and Sadler says one of the benefits from having a lot of new faces is the "freshness" it brings.

That was key for the Saddlers boss after last season's failure to win automatic promotion from League Two and subsequent defeat in the play-off final.

"That was important," he said.

"It was a fantastic season last season but one, clearly, that can take its toll.

"I think it was important from our point of view that we changed that up.

"It was a conscious effort to do that - making sure there was a real freshness about us and a dynamism to say 'we're moving forward'.

Sadler relief at window closing

Honing that synergy in his new-look squad is now the focus for Sadler, who says doing that should be easier with the window now shut.

"I think the window brings that - a level of potential uncertainty in the group," he said.

"So you want to make sure everyone's aligned and on the same page - it's brilliant that the window has closed from that perspective.

"The good thing is that from my point of view now it's closed, I can see those relationships form," he said.

"It won't really settle down for another couple of months and hopefully we'll see that real consistency.

"It's been relentless, but I have to be pleased with the work we've done."

Walsall have won four and lost two of their six games in League Two, and host Chesterfield - who they beat in the play-off semi-finals last season - on Saturday.