Express & Star

Darrell Clarke: It’s a difficult start for Walsall

Boss Darrell Clarke has described Walsall’s start to the season as ‘tough but good’ after the fixtures for the new campaign were revealed.

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The Saddlers will begin life in League Two with an opening-day clash at Northampton before then hosting Forest Green Rovers at the Banks’s Stadium.

In what is an action-packed opening month, they also travel to take on Crewe and Plymouth while they will host Newport County and Grimsby.

Clarke was appointed Walsall manager back in May following the club’s relegation from League One.

Having spent the past 12 years in English football’s third tier, it is the manager’s job to ensure the Saddlers are in the promotion race next season.

And he admitted he is looking forward to getting started.

“It’s always an interesting day when the fixtures come out and you have a good look through,” the 41-year-old said.

“We start with Northampton away and it’s a good game for ourselves. I know (their manager) Keith Curle and Colin West, the assistant manager, very well.

“One of my ex-players at Rovers, Chris Lines, has gone there so there’ll be familiar faces.

“It’s a tough start but a good start.

“We’ve then got Forest Green and I know Coops (Rovers manager Mark Cooper) very well too.

“They’re a good footballing team and Coops has produced some great teams and done a great job there.

“Hopefully, we’ll get a good gate for our first home game.”

Walsall can currently be found at odds of 16/1 to win League Two next year.

Salford, Bradford and Plymouth are the bookmakers’ favourites for the title.