Former Town midfielder named Walsall's new boss

Former Cobblers midfielder Matty Taylor has been named the new head coach of League Two outfit Walsall.

The 39-year-old played 49 games in all competitions for Northampton after joining the club from Burnley in 2016.

He is set to come up against his former team next season after joining Walsall, where he'll be assisted by former Blackpool manager Neil McDonald.

Taylor joins the Saddlers from Tottenham Hotspur where he was part of the coaching staff focusing on the performance of the club's young talent.

He also had a brief spell as Swindon's interim manager in 2018 after the departure of David Flitcroft. A year later, he acquired his UEFA Pro License and has been working at Spurs since 2019.

“I’m very happy to join the club,” Taylor said. “As with a lot of things in football, they move fast and this is no exception.

“I’m extremely honoured to be given the opportunity to be head coach of Walsall and I’m really excited. In football and life, a lot of it is about timing and in my opinion it’s very good timing.

“The club, the owner and the technical director want the opportunity to bring success back to Walsall Football Club and I hope I can be part of that.

“Winning football matches is never easy but what I’ve learnt in the last two years gives me an opportunity to build a style of play that the fans resonate with and enjoy watching, with the aim of delivering positive results on the pitch.

“It’s about building an identity of what we are and that the football team on the pitch replicates this on the pitch. One thing I can guarantee to all the supporters is their team will always give 100 per cent on the pitch because as a player, I was always that way and as a coach, I’m always that way and therefore I expect the players to reflect that.”

Chairman Leigh Pomlett added: “Matthew is young, ambitious and successful and I am delighted that we have been able to attract him to leave Tottenham Hotspur to become our head coach."