We are hearing a few murmurs that Walsall will appoint a new number 2 within days and have already earmarked a former Saddler to take over from Richard O’Kelly and that man is Stuart Watkiss.
Watkiss is known by all Saddlers fans after playing for the club in the early 90’s and helped the team to promotion under Chris Nicholl in 1994. He made over 70 appearances for the the club.
Since he retired in 1999 Watkiss has had quite a few jobs as a coach.
In 2001 Watkiss was appointed as assistant manager at Mansfield and then in 2002 became full time manager and led the club to their first promotion in 10 years. Just a year later the club were rooted to the bottom of Division 2 and Mansfield parted company with him.
Following his departure from Mansfield, Watkiss then became Academy manager at Barnsley and then later took up the managerial job at Kidderminster but was dismissed in 2006.
Over the next 3 years Watkiss then had a spell at Grimsby as assistant manager and then on a caretaker basis.
In 2009 Watkiss became development coach at Hull City and remained at the championship club until last year when Steve Bruce took charge of the Tigers.
Watkiss is known to both Dean Smith and youth team manager Neil Woods having played with Smith and working alongside Woods at Grimsby Town.
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