Grant wants more threat and goals from Walsall
New Walsall head coach Lee Grant says he will draw on his time as Ipswich Town's attacking coach to bring more goals to the Saddlers.
When Lee Grant was sacked by Huddersfield in January the club were in a play-off position and were the leading goalscorers in League One [Getty Images] New Walsall head coach Lee Grant says he will draw on his time working with Ipswich Town's strikers to turn the Saddlers into a more dynamic and threatening side in front of goal next season. Grant was appointed a week ago, as Mat Sadler's permanent replacement, on a three-year contract. The 43-year-old arrives at the Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium with the task of reviving a club that has had two promotion challenges implode after leading League Two in each of the last two seasons.
Walsall scored 56 goals in 46 games in 2025-26 as they slipped from top in December to finish 13th, 13 points off the play-offs as Sadler, and then interim boss Darren Byfield, could not maintain their challenge. Grant said he is aware of what he needs from his squad. "I'm under no illusions that we've got to be really creative, we've got to work really hard when it comes to how we recruit, but we also have a lot going for us as well," he told BBC Radio WM.
"I think those are the things that really drew me to the opportunity and encouraged me to get really excited about it. "The football club has taken really good strides forward and I know people will be frustrated because there's that sense of perhaps there was an opportunity for a bit more over the last two seasons, but I'd have to say full credit to the people that have been here prior to myself for pushing the club in the right direction. " Walsall name ex-Huddersfield boss Grant head coach Connor to leave Walsall coaching role this summer Interim boss Byfield set to leave Walsall Defender Flint among 12 released by Walsall Byfield to keep knocking on door for black bosses The Walsall job is his second management position having been Huddersfield Town boss between May 2025 and January this year.
Prior to that he was part of Kieran McKenna's coaching group that helped Ipswich to successive promotions from League One to the Premier League in 2023 and 2024. Those sides were renowned for their attacking prowess which brought a lot of goals under Grant's watch. "I was the forwards' coach.