Mat Sadler Keen to Use His Years of Experience to Aid Walsall's Young Defenders Mat Sadler Keen to Use His Years of Experience to Aid Walsall's Young Defenders

Mat Sadler Keen to Use His Years of Experience to Aid Walsall's Young Defenders

Speaking via a Zoom chat with club Multi-Media Editor Tom Heslop, Walsall defender Mat Sadler has reacted to his new coaching role at the club.
Mat's move into the realm of coaching was announced last week as the club confirmed that manager Darrell Clarke had opted to activate an extra year in Sadler's deal with the well-travelled centre-back also joining the backroom team.

35-year-old Sadler returned for his second spell at the Banks's last summer and went on to make thirty-two first-team appearances before the season was ultimately curtailed thanks to the coronavirus outbreak.

With well over five-hundred first-team games under his belt, the Birmingham-born man also admitted that he feels his wealth of experience can only be of benefit to the club, something he is keen to pass on to his teammates over the course of the coming campaign.

Mat, who was also speaking via the club's official YouTube Channel, said; "Especially in the last three, four years, it’s been something that has really focused my mind. It’s where all of my experience in working life lies, it’s very much what I know.

"Remaining part of football past this point and onward is something I intend on doing and fingers crossed this is the first step into that. As you gradually become a senior player in the dressing room you end up on that side.

"I’m really glad that the manager saw it in me and the management team saw it in me to take on this role. Hopefully the experience of different levels, managers, players and scenarios, you fall back on those when advice is needed.

"That’s when experience comes into play. Hopefully those little pieces of advice get us through the other side."

Despite becoming a player/coach Sadler insisted he wants to continue to play his part on the pitch, with the former England youth international determined to play as many games as possible when the 2020/21 campaign gets underway.

Mat, who will be among the elder statesmen next season as Darrell Clarke is likely to field a younger side next season, continued; "It will be a case of seeing how it develops, who knows what will happen in terms of the playing side of things.

"I will still be remaining on that side and try to play as many games as I possibly can. That feedback and talking to the lads will hopefully be beneficial as I’ll be close to the coaching thoughts and the player’s thoughts.

"The game looks very different from the sidelines so hopefully I can give that insight, as well as what the lads are thinking.

"We’re a very young group and an exciting group with some very gifted and talented players who hopefully can have some of my knowledge to improve them."

For more exclusive Saddlers content, including match highlights, player interviews and behind the scenes footage, visit the club's official YouTube Channel, HERE
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