Mat Sadler: Walsall fully behind Tyreik Wright

The 19-year-old Villa loanee was subject to vile racist messages on Instagram this week.

It has since been reported to West Midlands Police, who are investigating, and Sadler – who has moved up to assistant coach at Walsall – was dismayed at the abuse directed at Wright.

“It’s a disgrace that we’re having to talk about this,” Sadler said.

“I have so much time for Tyreik. He has come in and been a breath of fresh air and the fact that he is having to put this out there is an absolute disgrace.

“He’ll be getting our full support. As a football club any support he needs he’s got.

“I can’t speak in strong enough terms at how disgraced I am that another individual feels they have to the right to say that to somebody else.

“There’s no place for it in any part of life. Tyreik is a fantastic young lad who has the world at his feet and he shouldn’t have to deal with stuff like that.

“I hope the authorities deal with it with the full weight that they can.

“Hopefully he feels the support but sometimes I feel like it’s not enough, he shouldn’t have to deal with it.

“It sits so uncomfortably with me, I can’t stand it. He shouldn’t have to deal with it and we shouldn’t be talking about it. It has no place at this football club or any other football club.”

Manager Brian Dutton echoed Sadler’s thoughts – adding that racist abuse should not still be happening in 2021.

“The first thing I did was call Tyreik Wright to make sure he is OK and offer my support,” Dutton said.

“We have Mat Sadler who is a link with the PFA so he has a network of people who can help him.

“It’s appalling that we’re still, in 2021, living with these problems. I don’t want to speak too much on it because it’s such a horrific subject to talk about – that in 2021 there is racism still out there.

“All I can do is stand by Ty and support him.”