Timing is Everything’: Walsall Outline Approach for Finding Academy Loan Opportunities

‘Timing is Everything’: Walsall Outline Approach for Finding Academy Loan Opportunities

 

Walsall manager Mat Sadler has reiterated the importance of patience and precision as the club continues its push to secure the right loan moves for a number of their promising academy players.

 

Speaking candidly about the club’s development strategy, Sadler stressed that “timing is everything” when it comes to arranging loan spells that genuinely benefit the players involved. He believes a considered and tailored approach is vital in ensuring young prospects are placed in environments where they can thrive.

 

At the start of pre-season, Sadler revealed his intention to find loan opportunities for several standout academy names, including Stan Straw, Mcloyd Oben, Paul Makavore, Dylan Thomas, and Charlie Wragg. Since then, the club has begun putting pieces of that plan into action, albeit with careful deliberation.

 

Charlie Wragg has already taken a familiar step, returning to Halesowen Town on a work experience loan after previously impressing there. His return to the Southern League Premier Division Central outfit is seen as a continuation of a productive partnership, with the defender gaining valuable experience in a competitive senior setting.

 

Meanwhile, Mcloyd Oben has also tasted senior football during the summer, featuring twice for Stourbridge in their pre-season fixtures. Though not officially confirmed as a loan deal, Oben’s minutes suggest Walsall are using these games to assess potential fits and allow the youngster to adjust to different styles of football.

 

Sadler, reflecting on the approach, explained:

 

“We’ve got some excellent young players in our academy and the next step in their journey is to test themselves in men’s football. But we don’t want to just send them anywhere — the level, the style of play, the manager, and the club culture all have to be right. That’s why timing is everything.”

 

He added that forcing moves for the sake of it can have a negative impact, and the club is willing to wait for the right fit rather than act in haste.

 

> “There’s no point in a young player going somewhere and sitting on the bench or playing in a system that doesn’t suit them. We’d rather they stay with us for a bit longer and go out at the right moment than be thrown into something unhelpful.”

 

For now, players like Straw, Makavore, and Thomas remain with the first-team squad during training sessions and behind-closed-doors fixtures, continuing to develop under the watchful eye of Sadler and his staff. The club is also believed to be in regular contact with lower-league and non-league teams across the Midlands, gauging opportunities as the season progresses.

 

With the transfer window and non-league registration periods still open, further movement is expected in the coming weeks. But as Sadler has made clear, it will be dictated by opportunity — not urgency.

 

As Walsall’s blend of youth and experience continues to take shape, their thoughtful handling of academy development looks set to play a central role in their longer-term ambitions.

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