Walsall sack manager Matt Taylor, but the real problem lies upstairs

Walsall have sacked manager Matt Taylor following seven straight league defeats, culminating with a 1-0 defeat at bottom club Scunthorpe United.

The former Luton, Portsmouth, Bolton, West Ham United, and Burnley player was sacked following a 0-1 defeat to bottom club Scunthorpe United. Following just nine wins from his 36 games as manager, paired with seven consecutive losses was enough for the hierarchy to take action.

After leaving his role as the under 18 head coach at Tottenham Hotspur in June 2021 to manage the Saddlers, Taylor was able to spend the summer attempting to shape the side that he wanted to field each week.

Taylor attempted to play an attractive style of football, with ball movement at the heart of the philosophy. However, this idea of free-flowing football is difficult to execute in League Two, and Walsall fans have seen the consequences of a failure to implicate such a style.

So far this season the saddlers have averaged 49% possession in home games and 50% possession in away games. Certainly not the sort of numbers you would expect from a side battling for survival in League Two. That being said, the majority of the fan base does not seem to hold any resentment towards the 40-year-old, with the anger firmly pointed at the hierarchy of the club. Specifically, two names have consistently cropped up with some frustrated Walsall fans.

Jamie Fullarton is the Director of Football at Walsall, after joining the club on 13th April 2021.

“Fullarton will provide strategic direction, oversight and management of the Football Department – First-Team and Academy and help realise the Board’s footballing philosophy.

He will also head up the recruitment of key personnel in conjunction with the Board of Directors.”

It was clear that Walsall see Fullarton as the focal point of the club’s philosophy and felt as if he is the man that would take the club

However, Fullarton has been accused by many fans of playing a major part in Walsall being in the predicament they currently find themselves in, mainly through poor recruitment.

Chairman Leigh Pomlett is also under immense criticism from the fans.

One fan wrote:

“Take a look at yourself Leigh (Pomlett). Remove Fullarton, he’s part of the problem. The board know nothing about the football side as you’ve admitted, so why do you think you will get it right now?

Fullarton played a major role in bringing in Taylor as manager over the summer, but has failed to provide the Staffordshire local with a squad worthy of competing in the league. Furthermore, Pomlett has also tasked Fullarton with sourcing the next manager, causing a real stir in the Saddlers fan base.

Walsall started this season without a recognised striiker, and splashed big money on a player with a long-term injury.

First-team coach Neil McDonald will take charge of Walsall’s next game alongside player Mat Sadler. McDonald is currently the bookie’s favourite to get the job permanently, with previous experience with the club likely to be playing a part in that thinking.

Although, many fans want to see a more recognisable face and voice in the technical area to try and steer the side away from relegation. And there aren’t many voices more recognisable in the EFL than Paul Cook. The 54-year-old most recently managed League One Ipswich but has also managed the likes of Portsmouth and Wigan Athletic. As such, Walsall fans will be disappointed to find out that Cook has been recruited by National League side, Chesterfield.

Walsall and its board of directors have a crucial decision to make and whether they find the right man or not could decide the club’s fate in the division? If not, it could potentially be non-league football coming to the Bank’s Stadium next season.

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