Leigh Pomlett reveals his vision for Walsall
Leigh Pomlett has outlined his vision for Walsall by describing himself as an “ambitious pragmatist.”
The international businessman, who has supported the Saddlers since he was five, completed a shock takeover of the club earlier this week.
Walsall were relegated from League One last season and Pomlett stressed he is determined to secure a return to English football’s third tier as soon as possible.
But while his ultimate aim is to see the Saddlers in the Championship, he warned that will take additional investment.
“From a vision perspective I want us in the Championship but I am an ambitious pragmatist,” he said.
“Let’s start with where we should be, which is League One. I am disappointed I am chairman of a League Two side. I didn’t want to be.
“But we didn’t do well last year. I addressed the players yesterday morning and said, ‘lads we have assembled a squad to get us back into League One, go out there and get on with it’.
“With the finances and the infrastructure we have got there is no reason why we shouldn’t be a very sustainable League One side.
“Beyond that, you may get into the Championship – Burton Albion did it. It is possible. But to be sustainable is a huge financial leap.
“When we are back in League One, I will start planning to get us to the Championship. But that will take additional finance and a lot of it.
“It is possible to get to the Championship, but it’s not possible to sustain it without considerable financial input beyond what is there today.”
At a press conference yesterday, Pomlett said he plans to make numerous changes to how Walsall is run.
But he says he will go on to make even more when they have won promotion to League One.
“We have got to think creatively about the way the club is financed,” he continued.
“And I will be talking to people about what happens to Walsall Football Club when we are back in League One.
“Then we can move and start thinking about the Championship.
“I am ambitious about the club but I am not stupidly ambitious about it.
“I am not the chairman of Manchester City and I don’t want to be.
“I’d like us to be a Championship club but I want people to understand to do that we need to change the club significantly when we are in League One.
“We can get to League One as we are, beyond that we have to re-think the whole business model that is Walsall Football Club.”
