Lee Grant units out attacking want as new job begins

Walsall appointed Lee Grant as head coach from the top of this season, and he has already got down to make enhancements on the membership.

Walsall can be dissatisfied with their Thirteenth-place end in League Two final season, with Mat Sadler being dismissed from his duties initially of March. He was changed by Darren Byfield, who picked up simply three wins throughout his 10 video games in cost.

Lee Grant will take over head coach duties from pre-season, and has already set about making modifications, though he’s cautious to not overlook in regards to the expertise he already has.

“I’m beneath no illusions that we’ve received to be actually artistic, we’ve started working actually laborious in relation to how we recruit, however we even have lots going for us as effectively,” he instructed BBC Radio West Midlands. “I believe these are the issues that actually drew me to the chance and inspired me to get actually enthusiastic about it.

“The soccer membership has taken actually good strides ahead and I do know individuals can be annoyed as a result of there’s that sense of maybe there was a chance for a bit extra during the last two seasons, however I’d need to say full credit score to the individuals which were right here previous to myself for pushing the membership in the proper course.”

Lee Grant’s observe report as Walsall awaits

Throughout his time as head coach of Huddersfield City, Grant’s facet scored 46 targets in 28 video games. For reference, Cardiff Metropolis as scored probably the most targets this season with 90 in 46 video games.

That equates to only beneath two targets per sport, whereas Huddersfield’s was simply over 1.6 targets per sport. That might put them 4th in League One for targets scored per sport.

Nevertheless, Grant was lucky sufficient to have Leo Castledine at his disposal. The 20-year-old stays Huddersfield’s prime goalscorer (10), regardless of leaving the membership in January.

Alfie Could joined the Terriers final summer season, however has managed simply seven targets in 40 appearances. He netted 17 final season and 27 the 12 months earlier than for Birmingham Metropolis and Charlton Athletic, respectively.

Grant’s goalscoring technique appears to be extra about spreading targets throughout the pitch, fairly than having one out-and-out elite scorer.

Who will profit at Walsall?

At Ipswich City, Grant was the coach for the ahead gamers, beneath the steering of Kieran McKenna. “We had been the highest scorers in League One with over 100 targets and we had been the highest scorers within the Championship with almost 100 targets,” he stated on that. “After which we head into the Premier League and we managed to promote two of our forwards for almost £70m – so we’ve completed okay when it got here to the brass tacks of making and scoring,” he stated.

Final season, Daniel Kanu completed as Walsall’s prime purpose scorer in League Two on 15, whereas second place was Aaron Pressley on seven. Kanu will return to Charlton Athletic subsequent season, so recruitment can be key.

Walsall’s 2025/26 prime scorers (all competitions)

Pressley would be the first to reap the rewards of Grant’s arrival. He’s the very best scorer from final season on the membership, and Grant will concentrate on enhancing him first.

Pressley has struggled for targets all through his brief profession, however that doesn’t imply he can not study from Grant, who has expertise teaching and creating Liam Delap.

In fact, although, Walsall will probably look to recruit closely for his or her attacking division. Nevertheless, they may also need to signal gamers for his or her defence, too, with Evan Weir transferring to Peterborough United.

Walsall will know that it doesn’t take lots to attain success in League Two, having completed 4th in 2024/25.