Walsall start talks with top manager target
Walsall have started talks with their top target to become the club’s new manager, the Express & Star understands.
Supporters have been waiting to hear who will take over for next season after Brian Dutton parted ways with the club last Monday.
After announcing the released and retained list, in which eight first-team players were let go, technical director Jamie Fullarton has been working on bringing in the new manager.
Interviews have taken place over the last week and now it is understood talks are under way with the desired target to bring them to the club.
Club officials also confirmed at the working party meeting with supporters yesterday that the announcement on the new manager will be made later this week or next week if no snags are encountered in wrapping up the deal. Once someone is appointed, they will then work with Fullarton to assess the coaching team.
Although that target currently remains unnamed, several managers have been linked with the job.
Due to Fullarton’s links with Crystal Palace, 65-year-old Steve Coppell has been the bookies’ favourite to take over ever since Dutton departed.
Coppell last managed in the UK 10 years ago and held director of football roles on these shores up until 2014.
Recently, Morecambe manager Derek Adams has cropped up on 8/1 odds to take the job at the Banks’s Stadium.
He led the Shrimps to within a point of automatic promotion this season and is due to play the first of two legs against Tranmere in the play-off semi-finals on Thursday.
Elsewhere, club officials also confirmed at the working party meeting that Sam Perry’s contract extension was for two years with an extra year in the club’s favour.
