Walsall name Lee Grant as head coach on three-year deal | OneFootball

Walsall have appointed Lee Grant as head coach on a three-year deal, the club confirmed. The 43-year-old replaces Mat Sadler, dismissed in March after more than two-and-a-half years in charge.

Grant began his managerial career at Huddersfield Town in League One last term, but was relieved of his duties in January after eight months. He had previously spent three years as first-team coach at Ipswich Town, winning automatic promotion to the Premier League in 2024.

There is no update yet on Darren Byfield’s future after he led the final 10 games as interim head coach last term. The former Walsall striker returned as first-team coach in summer 2023 and could not revive the play-off push after stepping in.

Byfield started with a five-match unbeaten run, then four defeats in the final five left Walsall 13th.

Linked with the vacancy earlier this month, Grant takes only his second managerial role at WS1.

His Huddersfield reign opened with four wins from five, followed by just four in the next 15. Three successive victories over Christmas briefly steadied results before a four-match winless run ended his spell.

A former goalkeeper, Grant enjoyed a 22-year career with Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday, Burnley, Stoke City and Manchester United. He made 511 club appearances in the Football League, including 35 Premier League outings for Stoke between 2016 and 2018, and ended with four years at United featuring only two games.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com