New Walsall manager Darrell Clarke will be aiming to get the Saddlers promoted back to Sky Bet League One at the first time of asking in League Two 2019-20.
Relegated on final day of 2018-19 season
The Saddlers’ 12-year stay in League One came to an end on the final day of the season last term, as they finished 22nd-place on 47 points – three adrift of safety.
They had an excellent start to the campaign, going on a run of 12-game unbeaten run in all competition, and were fifth-place mid-September.
But their form dropped off towards the end of the season as they endured a run of just three wins from 24 games, and were relegated despite four points from their final two matches.
Darrell Clarke
The former Bristol Rovers manager was made Walsall boss in May, after the Saddlers sacked Dean Keates towards the end of last season.
Clarke had led the Pirates to successive promotions from the National League to League One in 2015 and 2016, during his four-year spell as boss at Memorial Stadium between 2014 and 2018.
And the 41-year-old will now be looking to guide Walsall back to the third tier of English football in his first season as manager at the Bescot Stadium in 2019-20.
Players
Walsall have made a double-swoop for Bristol Rovers midfielder Stuart Sinclair and defender James Clarke, who reunite with former boss Clarke.
But the Saddlers have lost right-back Nicky Devlin, who has signed for Scottish Premier League side Livingston.
Walsall also released 11 players, including Zeli Ismail, Isaiah Osbourne, and Joe Edwards.
Fixtures v the Saddlers
Town travel to the Bescot Stadium to face the Saddlers on Saturday, August 31, before hosting Darrell Clarke’s men at Blundell Park on Easter Monday (April 13).
Grimsby Town 2019-20 season tickets are available here.
