When I first started watching football in the 1950s, Wolverhampton Wanderers were one of the top teams in the country, if not the top team (although their Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion were also in there). For a small boy, a visit of Wolves to The Valley was the equivalent of Manchester United today.
When I first started watching football in the 1950s, Wolverhampton Wanderers were one of the top teams in the country, if not the top team (although their Black Country rivals West Bromwich Albion were also in there). For a small boy, a visit of Wolves to The Valley was the equivalent of Manchester United today.
Now Wolves are the only club to be relegated twice to the third tier in successive seasons in the 125-year history of the Football League. Wolves fans have no doubt who has the lion’s share of the blame: chairman Steve Morgan and chief executive Kevin Moxey. The Bishop of Wolverhampton called for divine intervention, but to no good effect.
If Wolves were going to sack the lugubrious but nevertheless effective Mick McCarthy, they should have done so at the end of the 2010-11 season. If they had kept him in February 2012, they might have survived. As it was, they interviewed Steve Bruce who thought he had got the job, but the club had a last minute change of mind. He has, of course, since got Hull City promoted to the Premiership.
Alan Curbishley is linked with every managerial vacancy. Apparently, he was interested in Wolves, but thought that a contract to the end of the season was a poisoned chalice. So McCarthy’s assistant Terry Connor was appointed, a decent man and coach, but not up to the job.
Norwegian Stale Solbakken then came in, despite a lack of relevant experience, and was sacked in January. Dean Saunders then came in, leaving Doncaster Rovers who have subsequently been promoted. Arguably, he wasn’t given enough time, and he does have League 1 experience, but apparently most Wolves fans think he is not the answer. Wolves say they are going to take their time about a replacement, although Kenny Jackett, who has just resigned from Millwall, is one name that has been mentioned.
It is evident that the club’s leadership has made of series of errors. Moreover, £18m was spent on the new Stan Cullis stand, giving the club probably the best stadium in League 1. Meanwhile, Yeovil, who don’t have a covered away end, could go up to the Championship.
It’s not good for the city either. Wolverhampton has faced a number of challenges, not least in the city centre, and games can bring in trade and also give a boost to morale and the city’s profile. No wonder Wolves fans are angry and upset.