Former Huddersfield Town manager Lee Grant has been appointed as the new head coach of League Two side Walsall, signing a three-year deal. The 43-year-old, who was sacked by the Terriers in January after just eight months in charge, described his first managerial role as a 'really good lesson' as he embarks on his next challenge.
Grant, who previously spent three years on Ipswich Town's coaching staff after retiring from playing, was appointed by Huddersfield in May and oversaw 36 games in all competitions, recording 15 wins, eight draws and 13 losses. At the time of his dismissal, the Terriers sat sixth in League One with 39 points from 27 matches, but several sides below had games in hand.
Reflecting on his time at Huddersfield, Grant told BBC Radio WM: 'You probably don't get many tougher experiences. We did a lot of things really, really well – we were the top scorers in the division when I left, and we were in the play-off positions... Things transpired post me leaving the football club which may enhance that opinion, or not, I don't know. That is in the rear view, and serves as a really good lesson for me.'
Grant takes over a Walsall side that finished 13th in League Two this season, having suffered significant downturns in form in the second half of the past two campaigns, missing out on promotion both times. He outlined his ambitions for the Saddlers, saying: 'Winning lots of games, that's for sure... I don't mind saying to you right now that I'm going to set some lofty targets for the group... We want to be promoted out this division.'
