Walsall have named former Liverpool assistant Sean O'Driscoll as their new head coach.

The 56-year-old has signed an 18-month contract with the League One Saddlers.

He succeeds Dean Smith, who was poached by Championship side Brentford last month after turning Walsall into one of the main contenders for promotion from the third tier.

"The culture of the club was the main attraction more than anything else and what everybody at the football club have tried to build in the last few years," O'Driscoll told the club website.

"I said to the chairman and the board of directors that in football it's very rare that you get to contribute towards developing a culture and philosophy.

"I've watched Walsall in the last two or three seasons and I've been entertained every time. There is an exciting project here and I'm relishing the opportunity to play my part in seeing that project through."

O'Driscoll's most recent job was assistant to Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, but he left Anfield with the Northern Irishman in October.

He has plenty of Football League management experience, having been in charge of Bournemouth, Doncaster Rovers, Crawley Town, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City this century.

Walsall are third in League One, five points behind leaders Burton Albion, and O'Driscoll's first game in charge will be on Sunday against mid-table Port Vale.