after dean keates was sacked as walsall manager in april 2019 with the team in the relegation places, o'connor was appointed for the remaining five matches of the season. despite overseeing a stunning 3-0 victory against peterborough united on 27 april 2019 taking the fight for survival to the last game of the season, o'connor ultimately could not stop the saddlers' relegation to league two. o'connor was succeeded as walsall manager by darrell clarke who signed a three-year contract on 10 may 2019.