Following a dismal 2018/19 campaign the Saddlers are now preparing for life in the fourth tier of English football, and, with almost twenty players set to be out-of-contract at the end of June, the new gaffer isn't expecting to have much of an opportunity of soaking up the sun.
41-year-old Clarke has been tasked with steadying an already sunken ship as he looks to help the team to rebound from last season's relegation, something which sees the Saddlers playing outside of League One for the first time in over a decade.
Mansfield-born Clarke, who had previous - and successful - managerial spells with Salisbury City and Bristol Rovers, is hoping to hear from players and agents over the coming days and weeks as he looks to rebuild the squad ahead of August's opening week of the season.
Speaking via the Express & Star, Darrell said; "It’s a good thing I have had my holidays because I’m not going to get a lot of days off over the summer. Now it’s about getting to work and getting the balance of the squad right.
"There is going to be a lot of planning prepping. It’s a big rebuild and there are going to be lots of players coming and going over the summer. In an ideal world, you’d love all the new players to be in for the first day of pre-season.
"The reality is that is sometimes a bit difficult. That’s the football world, agents and what not. Players holding on. It will be August when we start getting judged, and we need to make sure the fans are excited for the August 3 kick-off."