What does the future hold for - Mat Sadler?

With the season winding down, it`s the time of year players, managers and chief executives sit down and decide on the futures of the playing staff. With that in mind, and coupled with the Hornet`s tight financial belt ,VitalWatford will be taking a look at those who are out of contract, on loan or out of favour at the Vic` ahead of the Summer.

Today it`s the turn of Mat Sadler...

Signed in 2008 for the princely sum of 750k plus clauses he never met, Mat Sadler`s Watford career is a tale of what could have been, to the point and air of mystery surrounds his continued existence at Vicarage Road until this day.

Signed at a time when a left-back was one of the pieces of the jigsaw desperately needed to revive our faltering promotion bid, Sadler immediately took over from Jordan Stewart. His debut started with a careless lobbed pass straight back to him. He responded by killing the ball dead on his chest before lofting it carefully up the line. This guy I thought; should be good. And that`s the mystifying thing, only Brendan Rodgers (briefly) since Aidy Boothroyd has picked Sadler. Essentially his Watford career lasted from January 2008 until December 2008.

Rumours have persisted even whilst out on loan at Stockport and Shrewsbury that he would trigger a payment to Birmingham if he made another appearance - either that or an extortionate appearance fee. It`s a rumour that`s always been denied by the club but it seems odd that he can be that un-rated by Rodgers and Malky Mackay that he would be farmed out to lower-league sides on loan when he have no senior left backs and haven`t since he started getting shunned.

With his contract up at the end of June and having not played for the club for two-and-a-half years, it would take a minor miracle for the 26 year-old to be handed a new deal. With Shrewsbury going well in fourth in League Two it might be decent bet that Sadler ends up a Shrew permanently as they head toward League One.

Watford Appearances: 29 (+1) 0 Goals

Season Appearances: (On-loan at Shrewsbury) 42 (+0) 0 Goals

Appearance data correct as of publishing date

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