Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill has today had his say on rumours linking assistant manager Dean Holden with the vacant Walsall job.
Speaking to Stoke Sentinel, O’Neill said
“Dean’s not that long at the club, less than a year, but his reputation in the game is extremely high, which is why I went and got him.
“He’s had previous management experience. He had the opportunity at Bristol City, which was probably a difficult opportunity to go in as a first manager.”
“But equally I don’t envisage losing him in this situation.”
He obviously has a connection to the club because he started his coaching career and was a player there so that’s natural.
“But I think he’s enjoying the challenge here. He’s been an excellent addition to our coaching staff and certainly don’t want anything to change there.”
Holden is currently 2/1 favourite with BetVictor to take the Walsall job having already played for the club and became first team coach under Jon Whitney.
It remains to be seen whether Holden has been identified as a successor to Matt Taylor but it’s clear Stoke City do not want to lose him.
