After over a decade in League One, and following a dismal 2018/19 campaign, the Saddlers begin life in the fourth tier of English football when they take on Northampton at the PTS Academy Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The clash with the Cobblers will see Walsall take to the field with an almost unrecognisable line-up when compared to the side which drew with Shrewsbury on the final day of last season as Clarke, who replaced Dean Keates in the dugout at Banks's Stadium, has undertaken a complete overhaul over the summer months.
Along with Clarke’s somewhat surprising appointment, former director Leigh Pomlett also completed a takeover of the club earlier this week, a move which has seen season-ticket sales increase and a general feeling of optimism grow amongst the supporters.
And Clarke, who will be assisted by Marcus Stewart and Brian Dutton, has seen both his budget and his level of support increase under the new ownership, doesn’t want to take that optimism away as he looks ahead to the upcoming League Two campaign.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Darrell said; "I am not going to take any enjoyment away from the fans. That is what everyone wants to see, that is what the management and the players want to see.
"We are in League Two. And the only way you get out of League Two is by making sure everyone is pulling in the same direction. That goes for everyone, everyone in the football club, the supporters and the media.
"I think it’s been a pretty positive summer with the changes that have been made. We want to continue that and have a good season."
While Clarke is optimistic for the season ahead, he is also a realist and went on to admit that his team will have to overachieve if they are to compete with some of the bigger-budget teams which also ply their trade in League Two.
Clarke continued; "There are a lot of big teams in League Two. There are a lot teams that are difficult to play against with different strengths and different weaknesses.
"There is a lot more pressure on the big clubs in this league. We know we are not in the top seven catchment for that. But I have spent my time at my other clubs overachieving.
"I think 70 to 75 percent of clubs finish where their budget is. We know we are going to have to overachieve to get out of this division with the competition that is in it. But that is what we will be trying to do."