Darrell Clarke homework has got him fully prepared for Walsall
Darrell Clarke says he has done plenty of homework on the small group of Walsall players he has inherited.
The Saddlers chief wielded the axe by offering just two out-of-contract players new deals in Liam Kinsella and Nicky Devlin while letting several first-teamers go.
The likes of goalkeeper Liam Roberts, midfielder George Dobson and top scorer Andy Cook were already contracted, and on the players on the books, Clarke said: "You can find every bit of detail you want in the football world now with the scouting tools that are out there.
"I have watched a lot of Walsall games. I have done my homework as such, and now we’ll get cracking.
"Yes, it’s going to be a tough rebuild, but it’s a rebuild that can be done working within what we work with."
Stuart Sinclair arrived as the first new signing of the summer last week from Bristol Rovers – Clarke's former club.
Clarke also did his due diligence on the Saddlers as a whole, speaking to old boss Dean Smith and the outgoing John Ward.
"I was assistant manager to John (at Rovers). John brought me in. He is a great guy and has got plenty of experience in the game – I know John very well," said Clarke.
"I had a couple of chats with John and a couple of chats with Dean who I get on with and who knows the club very well.
"You do your due diligence. If you are an out-of-work manager, you speak to people who you need to speak to about the club and there is a really good feel about this place."
