Following the Saddlers' League Two Play-Off Final defeat to AFC Wimbledon, the Walsall Football Supporters' Trust has issued its End of Season Statement calling upon the club to get a grip on several issues.Published via their official website, the statement reads: As the 2024/25 season drew to a close at Wembley Stadium, the Walsall Supporters’ Trust issues this statement in the spirit of constructive reflection and shared ambition.
While a play-off finish marks clear progress on recent seasons, the campaign ends in disappointment, with the club falling short of promotion in the play-offs after being 15 points clear in January.
We thank the players and coaching staff for their commitment, and we commend the supporters for standing strong through the highs and lows.
We begin by placing on record our sincere thanks to the club for its continued support of the Her Game Too campaign, and its open and ongoing communication with the Trust throughout the season. In particular, we value the professional and respectful relationship fans have developed with CEO Ben Sadler, which has supported better dialogue between the club and its supporters.
We also thank the club for its partnership in the Christmas Toy Appeal and the Player of the Season awards — initiatives that reflect the powerful role Walsall FC can play in the wider community.
Even so, despite genuine early momentum and the rigorous work done to identify the potential of Nathan Lowe, the season has ultimately ended in disappointment. Walsall FC failed to achieve promotion, having been in a commanding position just months earlier.
Over the final 20 fixtures, the team dropped to joint-bottom of the League Two form table, with a 13-game winless run that erased the gains of a promising first half of the campaign.
Most strikingly, the club became the first in English league history to record both 9 consecutive wins and 13 games without a victory in the same season — a statistical and strategic collapse that cannot be ignored.
Throughout it all, supporters have shown up — in numbers, in voice, and with unwavering commitment. We commend the club’s £10 ticket initiative, which was widely welcomed and helped strengthen the matchday atmosphere.
We strongly encourage this approach to accessibility to continue, irrespective of league position or results. Whatever has happened on the pitch, the fans have delivered — again and again.
As a democratic organisation, and minority shareholders in the club, the Walsall Supporters’ Trust is bound by its constitution to act as a critical friend to the club — raising only those concerns we believe are reasonable, constructive, and reflective of the wider supporter base. In that spirit, and in full recognition that only Colchester United have waited longer than Walsall for promotion among the 72 EFL clubs, we believe the following footballing concerns require serious reflection:
- The long-term unexplained absence of Harry Williams;
- The underuse of Danny Johnson, who posted an exceptional 1.76 goals + assists per 90 minutes —the most effective in the division;
- A rigid tactical system, retained even as opposition teams clearly adapted;
- The timing of Matt Sadler’s contract extension, which arguably reduced managerial flexibility at a time when results were in free fall;
- And a January transfer strategy that saw multiple loan players arrive, some without featuring at all — and, for the third consecutive season, the mid-season recall of a prolific striker, raising serious concerns around recruitment planning, loan agreements, and whether cost containment has been prioritised over competitive ambition.
These footballing issues exist within a wider context. The club has reported operating losses of over £1 million — a figure that underscores the need for strategic coherence and long-term planning.
Responsibility for this sits with the club’s ownership, Trivela Group. Given the scale and historic nature of the footballing collapse, we believe it is both appropriate and necessary to now call on Trivela to:
- Clearly articulate their long-term vision specifically for Walsall FC. A strategy has been outlined previously; however, not since the club now forms part of a broader portfolio of professional teams across Europe;
- Reaffirm their commitment to Walsall as a sporting and community institution, not just a financial asset, through concrete actions – not just communications;
- Proactively offer voluntary transparency regarding Trivela’s ultimate ownership, which remains undisclosed due to its incorporation in Delaware. While legally permissible, the current lack of clarity invites speculation — particularly in light of ad hoc social media appearances by well-known American public figures at Walsall fixtures. At a time when openness and accountability are essential to sustaining the positive strides made in supporter engagement by Trivela, enhanced transparency would go a long way in reinforcing trust and credibility.
The sharpness and severity of the downturn has brought some longstanding questions around ownership and governance into sharper focus. The Trust has been deliberately cautious in commenting on these matters until now, and we have continued to support the club through our actions – most recently by issuing statements on pitch invasions. However, it would be disingenuous to attribute such a dramatic decline since January to footballing issues alone.
We therefore respectfully call for:
- A transparent review of the season’s downturn and strategic missteps;
- A clear and measurable roadmap for promotion in 2025/26;
- Continued commitment to accessible football and community engagement;
- A formal statement from Trivela Group on ownership structure and strategic intentions for Walsall FC in its portfolio;
- And meaningful, ongoing engagement with supporters as essential stakeholders in the club’s long-term future, including the addition of a non-executive board which the Trust as minority shareholders has representation.
We are not ignorant to the inherent challenges in running a professional football club, and we fully appreciate that certain decisions may be informed by factors not always visible to supporters. Our requests are therefore made in good faith and with the best interests of the club at heart.
This summer represents a pivotal opportunity to reset, rebuild, and realign. The core pillars are in place — a passionate and loyal fanbase, dedicated club staff, and deep-rooted goodwill within the community. What is now required is clear leadership, strategic direction, and a renewed sense of shared ambition.
The Trust remains committed to maintaining a constructive and transparent relationship with the club. We look forward to engaging further and receiving the club’s considered response in due course.