Following the news that he'd put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal with the Saddlers, soon-to-be-former Leyton Orient striker Conor Wilkinson has spoken of how easy the decision to move was once he'd met with club officials.
The 26-year-old, who becomes head coach Matt Taylor and technical manager Jamie Fullarton's first signing of the summer, netted fifteen times last season and will be keen to add to that tally this season.
After beginning his career at Millwall’s academy Conor joined Bolton Wanderers in 2013 and made seventeen appearances for the Trotters, seven coming while they were in the Championship. He also worked with Saddlers Technical Director Jamie Fullarton during his time at the University of Bolton stadium.
The forward enjoyed loan spells at Chester, Torquay United, Oldham Athletic, Barnsley, Newport County, Portsmouth and Chesterfield before leaving the University of Bolton Stadium for Sky Bet League One side Gillingham in the summer of 2017.
He played a total of fifty matches for the Gills before he moved to National League club Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2018, initially on loan, before making the move permanent in January 2019 and ended the 2018-19 season with twelve goals which prompted Leyton Orient to sign him later that summer.
Speaking via the club's official website, Conor said; "I’m very excited. Once I met Jamie and I met the manager, it was a no-brainer for me.
The 26-year-old, who becomes head coach Matt Taylor and technical manager Jamie Fullarton's first signing of the summer, netted fifteen times last season and will be keen to add to that tally this season.
After beginning his career at Millwall’s academy Conor joined Bolton Wanderers in 2013 and made seventeen appearances for the Trotters, seven coming while they were in the Championship. He also worked with Saddlers Technical Director Jamie Fullarton during his time at the University of Bolton stadium.
The forward enjoyed loan spells at Chester, Torquay United, Oldham Athletic, Barnsley, Newport County, Portsmouth and Chesterfield before leaving the University of Bolton Stadium for Sky Bet League One side Gillingham in the summer of 2017.
He played a total of fifty matches for the Gills before he moved to National League club Dagenham & Redbridge in November 2018, initially on loan, before making the move permanent in January 2019 and ended the 2018-19 season with twelve goals which prompted Leyton Orient to sign him later that summer.
Speaking via the club's official website, Conor said; "I’m very excited. Once I met Jamie and I met the manager, it was a no-brainer for me.
"I’ve had a fair few offers in the window, but this one came to me and made a lot of sense for me.
"I’ve worked with Jamie before during my time at Bolton and I felt like I was at my best form under him.
"He got me going, and he knew how to get the best out of me. I met Matt a couple of weeks ago.
"He and I have spoken more than I’ve spoken to my girlfriend. When I met him, no one had ever broken-down football like that to me before, the way he spoke and the way he knew the game.
"I was driving home from the meeting, and I was amazed because I’ve never met a manager who has shown me that side of football. From goalkeeper to striker, everything was breathtaking."
Conor will officially become a Saddler on Thursday, 1st July when his contract with the Breyer Group Stadium club comes to an end.
Conor will officially become a Saddler on Thursday, 1st July when his contract with the Breyer Group Stadium club comes to an end.