Football Season Guide

Walsall spent the last decade fighting against the odds in League 1 but finally succumbed to relegation following a dreadful second-half to last season. 12 defeats in 16 league matches following the turn of the year saw manager Dean Keates lose his job and the five remaining games weren’t enough for caretaker Martin O’Connor to save them from the drop. The club acted swiftly this summer to appoint Darrell Clarke and he certainly has the pedigree following a successful spell at Bristol Rovers. Clarke faces a huge rebuilding job this summer with several influential players leaving the club. Defender Joe Edwards has headed to Plymouth Argyle whilst striker Andy Cook has signed for Mansfield Town after a disappointing year at the Bescot Stadium. The loss of midfield playmaker George Dobson to Sunderland is a real blow whilst striker Morgan Ferrier is expected to follow, having already seen a bid rejected for his services. It could see the Saddlers start the new season without a single player who started their final game of last season. Clarke will be busy in the transfer market until it closes at the start of September. He has brought in tried and tested players in defenders James Clarke and Mat Sadler and midfielders Danny Guthrie and Stuart Sinclair. They will need to find some firepower if they are to avoid a struggle this season.