Plymouth Argyle are on the lookout for a new manager to help steer them clear of the Championship relegation places but have reportedly been rebuffed in their attempts to land Walsall boss Mat Sadler.
The former defender has been making a name for himself since taking on the role in 2023 with his Walsall side strolling ten points clear of their nearest rivals at the top of the League Two table.
Walsall Manager Targeted After Impressive Run to League Two Summit
After leading Walsall to an 11th-place finish in the fourth tier in 2023/24, Sadler has elevated his side to be one of the most impressive outfits in the Football League.
The team are currently on a 14-match unbeaten run in League Two. They have won seven on the bounce, beat League One Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup and are into the last 16 of the EFL Trophy, where they will meet Peterborough United.
However, it is their style of play that is catching the eye in the current campaign. Only Bromley have had a lower average amount of possession per game than the league leaders, but they remain the leading scorers in the fourth tier with 43 goals.
Walsall sit in the top three for total and shots on target per game, with only Notts County accumulating a higher expected goal tally than the Saddlers.
The manager has moulded this team into a functioning unit with his three-at-the-back formation and it was only a matter of time before clubs further up the pyramid began to register an interest.
Plymouth Argyle Search For Wayne Rooney Replacement
It has been a starkly different picture at Plymouth Argyle in the second tier, with the Pilgrims at the foot of the table, having won just four of their 25 league matches.
They have failed to pick up a win since beating Portsmouth at the beginning of November and are the only team in the Championship yet to win a league match on the road.
The next managerial appointment could prove pivotal but according to Football League World, they have been rebuffed by Walsall in an approach for Sadler.
It is unclear if the manager, who played over 100 times for Walsall as a player, would be interested in joining the Championship side as they appear to be strong candidates for relegation to the third tier. It does appear likely that both Plymouth Argyle and his current team will be playing at the same level next season.
The search for Wayne Rooney’s successor goes on but it may worry fans that the club does not have the pull or resources to tempt a League Two club into opening discussions for their manager.