Darrell Clarke won’t rush his Walsall rebuild
Boss Darrell Clarke has warned his Walsall rebuild can’t be rushed.
The Saddlers, who returned to pre-season training earlier this week, currently have just 12 senior players on the books – but Clarke is determined to remain patient as he assembles a squad ready for life in League Two.
A hectic few weeks are nevertheless expected, with Clarke keen to have the majority of his transfer business done before Walsall fly out for a training camp in Poland on July 14.
Yet he won’t make signings just for the sake of it.
He said: “This can’t be rushed. If you miss out on certain targets that does not mean you become lazy and go for someone who might not be quite right.
“A bit of patience is needed. The window shuts at the end of August. Obviously it is important we get a lot of the squad sorted. But we also want to leave a bit of money in the kitty as well for rainy days come the end of August and seeing how we start.”
Clarke’s squad building has accelerated in recent days with the signings of former Fylde midfielder James Hardy and ex-Fulham striker Elijah Adebayo.
They follow the earlier captures of Bristol Rovers duo James Clarke and Stuart Sinclair, while the Saddlers received arguably their biggest boost since relegation when midfielder Liam Kinsella agreed a new two-year deal.
The boss unfazed by the small size of his squad at this point.
He said: “It will be building nicely as we go along. I have been there, seen it and done it.
“There are different reasons and circumstances why it takes a bit of time for the squad to be built up.
“But it is not a problem. I have seen most things in football now.
“The staff and myself are ready. It is going to be a busy period in terms of bringing players into the club and busy for what I want to do on the training pitch.”
Walsall have confirmed reduced matchday admission prices following last season’s relegation.
The club have scrapped A and B categories with prices the same for all home matches. Adult tickets are priced between £18 and £23, with the club also introducing a new young adult category for supporters aged 18 to 21.
