Comment: Walsall have climbed from dismal depths to heady heights under Mat Sadler

Harrogate Town had just condemned a sorry Saddlers to a 3-0 defeat in North Yorkshire to extend their wretched run of form to just one win in 20 games. 

The early hope of a potential play-off push had been emphatically diminished by a complete collapse in the second half of the season. 

At full-time, Michael Flynn admitted he was "at a loss" to know what to do with some of his players. And by the morning, the Welshman found himself relieved of his duties. 

Flynn had admittedly been shaken by the winter departures of Liam Bennett and leading marksman Danny Johnson but his dismissal felt "inevitable" as Paul Jenkins wrote in the Express & Star at the time.

A young, fresh-faced, Mat Sadler was tasked with fanning the flames for the final three games and endured mixed success in caretaker charge with a win, draw and defeat apiece. 

Flynn later argued he could've pushed the club forward had he been given more time but Trivela sensed that Walsall needed to be moving in a new direction. 

Sadler was installed as the man to spearhead the new era and even admitted upon his unveiling that perhaps the fan base were craving a more high-profile name. 

Yet after two spells as a player and three years in the backroom staff, Sadler had earned his stripes and possessed a broad understanding of the club. 

It was of course a risk and supporters remained unconvinced when Walsall sat in a precarious 19th-place following just five wins from their opening 19 games during his debut campaign. 

In December last year, co-chairman Ben Boycott jetted over from the US to address concerns and boldly stated that results needed to improve. 

They soon did. Oisin McEntee's second double inspired Walsall to a 2-1 comeback win at Notts County and ended a run of six league matches without a win. 

By the start of March, Walsall had climbed into the play-off places although they would ultimately fall short after collecting just 11 points from the last 33 available. 

But Trivela had seen enough to offer Sadler a new deal and are now reaping the reward for showing faith in the young rookie in the dugout. 

Over time, the pieces of the jigsaw have gradually formed the perfect picture of complacency and possibly even the recipe for future success. 

Everything has been meticulously done to create a collective culture within the dressing room and also among the supporters. 

Fast forward 20 months from that horror show in Harrogate, Walsall sit top of the table at Christmas for the first time since 2006. 

Michael Dobson was lifting the League Two title later that season and the 'Class of 24' will be looking to emulate that memorable success in 2025. 

Time will tell whether they can maintain their promotion push but it feels as if Walsall are heading in only one direction with Sadler at the wheel.