'The Wolves' Site News Page

From www.wolves.co.uk: George Ndah has thanked fans for the 'overwhelming' reception he received on Saturday.
The former striker had made the trip to Molineux to bid a proper farewell to the supporters who took him to their hearts during his time with Wolves. After seven years, 92 games and 19 goals for the club the ex-Swindon man retired last April, unable to recover from a knee injury.

He said: "It was unbelievable - my kids loved absolutely every minute of it and so did I.
"I'm really pleased to have been invited. I felt so emotional when I went out there and so grateful to the fans for the way they received me.
"But, to be fair, they were like that with me from day one. I'll never forget my debut and the good times I had with Wolves and the backing I had throughout from the fans even though I didn't get to play that many games.
"And the supporters still mention the two I scored against Albion back in 2001.
"All of my family were at Molineux to watch and it was special for me to be able to take my children out on the pitch with me. I hoped I'd get a warm welcome but nothing like the reception I did get. The fans are different class.
"Since I retired I haven't really missed the game too much. But when I stepped out on the pitch, it all came flooding back. It felt like I'd never been away."

Of the victory over QPR, George, who now works in sports management, added: "Mick McCarthy has worked absolute miracles. Players like Andy Keogh and Michael Kightly are so full of skill and running.
"The team has done fantastically well. I follow their progress each game and I've got everything crossed that they reach the play-offs. The fans at this club deserve Premier League football.
"Although I was saying goodbye on Saturday, I will be back from time to time. And can I just thank Fay Vale, John Hendley and Matt Murray at the club for helping organise everything at the weekend. It was a very special day for me and my family."

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy was delighted that his side managed to grind out a 2-0 victory over QPR at Molineux that leaves them on course for a play-offs clash with arch rivals West Brom.
Keogh and Kightly got the goals to leave Wolves level on points with Albion, who are fourth to Wolves' fifth thanks to a superior goal difference.
If the play-off positions remain unchanged after next Sunday's final matches - Wolves travel to Leicester and Albion are at home to Barnsley - the pair will meet in the play-off semi-finals.

"We would take that now," said McCarthy. "I'm sure they would too. They think they can beat us.
Wolves were not at their best but McCarthy was not about to apologise for that.
"Nobody said it was going to be easy," said McCarthy. "It was a Championship game - a bit messy. If we have to grind out 1-0 victories we will do it.
The crowd chanted McCarthy's name with passion at the end and he said: "I feel quite humbled by the crowd's reaction to me - all I have done is spend someone else's money."

Half Time: Wolves 0-0 QPR.
57mins: GOAL, Keogh heads Wolves into the lead.
59mins: QPR substitution, Timoska on for Kanyuka (injured).
63mins: Yellow card, Smith.
64mins: GOAL, Kightly makes it 2.
65mins: QPR substitution, R Jones on for Furlong.
69mins: Yellow card, Nygaard.
69mins: Yellow card, Breen.
77mins: QPR substitution, Baily on for Border.
79mins: Wolves substitution, Ward on for Bothroyd.
83mins: Wolves substitution, Gleeson on for Kightly.
90mins: Wolves substitution, Little on for Keogh.
Full Time: Wolves 2-0 QPR.

Wolves: defender Gary Breen should recover from the dead leg that forced him out of the defeat to Birmingham.
Jamie Clapham would give way if Breen is fit, while Mark Little is available after serving a one-match suspension.

QPR: veteran Paul Jones and youngster Jake Cole are vying for the keeper's jersey following Lee Camp's recall from loan by Derby.
Marc Bircham (back injury) returned to reserve-team action for the first time since January, but will not feature.

Wolves have announced their pre-season matches, with just the home friendly to be confirmed.

There will be four domestic away matches, a two-game tour of Ireland, and a final warm-up at Molineux either Saturday 4th or Sunday 5th August. Details of this game are still being considered and won't be decided until Wolves league status is determined.

The pre-season tour starts with a trip to Grays Athletic on Saturday 14th July. The match was agreed as part of the deal that brought Michael Kightly to Wolves.
The team will then leave for Dublin where they will play a testimonial match, for Kieran 'Tarzan' O'Brien, against Bray Wanderers of County Wicklow on Wednesday 18th. This will be followed by a visit to Stephen Ward's former club Bohemians on Sunday 22nd.
Next the squad return home to prepare for a friendly at Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday 25th.
Former Wolves assistant bosses John Ward and Stuart Gray have extended invitations to travel to Cheltenham Town on Saturday 28th and Northampton Town on Tuesday 31st to end the month.
No kick-off times have been confirmed yet.

The home friendly will end the warm-up programme, leaving Wolves one week to prepare for the opening of the new season on 11th August, next season all Leagues will kick off on the same day.

Wolves defender Jackie McNamara will wait to see what the Molineux club have to offer him before deciding what his future holds beyond the summer.
The Scotland international, nearing the end of his contract, has been linked with Hibernian and Livingston.
But the 33-year-old insists he has had no contact with either Scottish club.
McNamara said: "I will wait until we see if we get into the play-offs and hopefully get up to the Premiership and sit down and speak to Wolves then."

Wolves goalkeeper Matt Murray has been named the PFA's Fans Player of the Year in the Championship.
Murray said: "Any award is nice at the end of a long, hard season. It can make a season extra special.

The full team was: Matt Murray (Wolves), Graham Alexander (Preston), Bale (Southampton), Moore (Derby), Curtis Davies, Jason Koumas (both West Brom), Carlos Edwards, Dean Whitehead (both Sunderland), Diomansy Kamara (West Brom), Michael Chopra (Cardiff), Gary McSheffrey (Birmingham).

McCarthy said after the match: "Since I've been here I don't think I've commented on referee performances and I don't want to get involved, but at 2-1 we have an absolute stonewall penalty.
"Macca (McIndoe) taking a penalty to make it 3-1 is hugely different to being 3-2 down for the equaliser.
"I am annoyed about that and I don't like it."

However he praised his side's endeavour and admitted that their future lay in their own hands now.

He continued: "We had an absolutely magnificent performance - created loads of chances and their keeper is man of the match.
"Overall I'm thrilled with our performance and the chances we created.
"We've got two more games, win them both and we're in the play-offs, no-one can do anything about it."

McIndoe's missed penalty was the fifth spot-kick Wolves have failed to convert this season, but McCarthy believes they will put them away when it matters.
He said: "I think we're saving them up for the play-off final - we'll score them all then."

5mins: Yellow card, Breen.
37mins: Yellow card, Olofinjana.
Half Time: Wolves 0-0 Birmingham.
54mins: Goal, Cole gives Birmingham the lead.
61mins: Birmingham substitution, Jeromeon for Cole.
62mins: Wolves substitution, Clapham on for Breen (injured).
67mins: GOAL, McIndoe levels the score.
70mins: Yellow card, Muamba.
71mins: GOAL, McIndoe gets his second and puts Wolves ahead.
77mins: Goal, Bendtner levels the score.
77mins: Yellow card, Collins.
81mins: Yellow card, McSheffrey.
83mins: Yellow card, Jaidi.
85mins: Yellow card, Bothroyd.
87mins: Wolves substitution, Ward on for Bothroyd.
88mins: Goal, Jerome puts Birmingham ahead.
90mins: Birmingham substitution, Nafti on for Larsson.
93mins: Yellow card, Clemence.
93mins: Mcindoe's penalty is saved.
94mins: Birmingham substitution, Vine on for McSheffrey.
Full Time: Wolves 2-3 Birmingham.

Wolves: are missing Rob Edwards and Karl Henry for the visit of Birmingham.
Mark Little is suspended following his sending-off at Selhurst Park.
Long-term casualties Carl Cort, Michael Oakes, Carl Ikeme and Mark Davies are all still missing for Mick McCarthy.

Birmingham: are expected to be without Damien Johnson as he continues to struggle with a hamstring strain.
Andy Cole is set to start in attack for Birmingham, while Neil Danns is again missing through suspension.

Wolves defender Gabor Gyepes' contract has been terminated by mutual consent.
The 25-year-old, was supposed to be at the club until the summer of 2008, has been out since March 2006, when he suffered cruciate knee ligament damage.
Boss Mick McCarthy said: "Gabor will continue his rehabilitation in Hungary. It has been a long time to be out.
"Every time he has looked like coming back, he has had another setback. He is not finished, though, and I hope he can return to playing again soon."

Molineux has been chosen as the venue for a game to celebrate the centenary of schoolboy internationals.
England will face Wales one hundred years on from when the sides met in the first schoolboy international. The game was played at Walsall's Fellows Park with England winning 3-1.
The international will take place on Friday, 4th May with a 7pm kick-off. Pay at the gate admission to the Billy Wright Stand is �10 for adults and �6 concessions (under 17s, over 65s and full time students).

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said after the match: "That could turn out to be our most precious point of the season.
"Results were kind to us again and it's a lovely position to be in with three games left. That point might just be the point which does it for us at the end.
"It was a good performance in the first half and a determined performance in the second half when we had to dig in."

Bothroyd had a trial at Palace over the summer but was turned down by manager Peter Taylor, allowing McCarthy to step in, and the striker now has four goals in his last two games to reignite Wolves promotion bid.

"I'm getting the best out of him and he's getting the best out of himself," added McCarthy.
"When he came off he said how tired he was and I said 'that's because you've been running around a lot'.
"I've got no complaints about the sending-off. If he's committed two fouls and been shown two yellows I can't argue with that, although it does seem some refs are too quick to send people off.
"I think the crowd have an effect as well, which is good for Palace."

Wolves reserves beat Cardiff reserves 1-0 at Compton Park this afternoon thanks to a headed goal from Denes Rosa.
The only goal of the game came in the 19th minute, Rosa headed home from two-yards out after Ijaha had nodded Charlie Mulgrew's centre back across the face of goal.

Wolves Reserves: Hennessey, Little, Mulgrew, Gleeson, Riley, L. Collins, Ijaha (O'Connor 65), Salmon (Spalding 84), C. Davies, M. Davies, Rosa (Kasiama 74). Unused subs: Lumley, Williams.

From wolves.co.uk: With competition for play-off places intense, it looks like the final positions will only be decided on the last day of the season.

Should this be the case, and Wolves secure a 'top six' play-off finish, then it may only leave four or five days for the club to organise, sell and distribute tickets for the first leg which will take place on Friday 11th, Saturday 12th or Sunday 13th May. The second leg will take place in the following week.

Given this short time scale, and whilst not wishing to tempt fate, contingency plans have been prepared to ensure that tickets for both legs are sold as smoothly as possible bearing in mind the time constraints. As season tickets do not cover play-off games, holders will soon receive a letter outlining how they can reserve a seat for the home leg and apply for tickets to the away game.

The letters urge season ticket holders to register for the club's Cup-Tie Scheme, which reserves them a ticket for the home play-off match. Payment for reserved tickets will only be taken once qualification is secured and tickets are automatically posted directly to the supporter, removing the need to call or visit the Ticket Office. Wolves strongly recommend that supporters not yet registered for this scheme join immediately. Anybody wanting to join this scheme needs to ensure their application form is returned to the Ticket Office by 5pm, Wednesday 25 April.

Letters also include information on the sales procedure for the away leg, inviting fans to apply for tickets based on their loyalty points. Fans with more than 1,050 loyalty points are guaranteed a ticket. Anybody with 1,030 to 1,040 loyalty points is also invited to apply, but should demand exceed availability as expected, a ballot will be held, with representatives of the Fans' Parliament present to ensure transparency. Application forms for the away leg are contained within the letters.

Information relating to the location of visiting fans is also contained within the letter to season ticket holders.

Dates for the play-off games will be finalised in discussion between the Football League, Sky Television, competing clubs and their police/local authorities. However, the first leg will take place between the 11th and 13th May with the second leg to follow between the 14th and 17th May. The final will take place at Wembley on Monday 28 May.
Play-off pairings will be: 6th (home first) v 3rd and 5th (home first) v 4th.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said: "That could turn out to be our most precious point of the season.
"Results were kind to us again and it's a lovely position to be in with three games left. That point might just be the point which does it for us at the end.
"It was a good performance in the first half and a determined performance in the second half when we had to dig in."

12mins: Goal, Hudson puts Palace ahead.
13mins: GOAL, Bothroyd levels the score.
22mins: GOAL, Bothroyd puts Wolves ahead with his second of the game.
34mins: Yellow card, Little.
37mins: Goal, McAnuff equalises for Palace.
41mins: Yellow card, Morrison.
43mins: Red card, Little is sent off for a second bookable offence.
45mins: Wolves substitution, N Collins on for McIndoe.
Half Time: C Palace 2-2 Wolves.
57mins: Yellow card, Bothroyd.
60mins: Palace substitution, Ifill on for Soares.
64mins: Wolves substitution, Ward on for Bothroyd.
73mins: Palace substitution, Scowcroft on for Kuqi.
78mins: Palace substitution, Kennedy on for McAnuff.
83mins: Wolves substitution, M Davies on for Kightly.
Full Time: C Palace 2-2 Wolves.

Crystal Palace: Midfielder Ben Watson (groin) and winger Jobi McAnuff (hamstring) should return to the line-up.
Defender Darren Ward missed training this week due to illness and is unlikely to be included, neither is Dougie Freedman (ankle).

Wolves are expected to be boosted by the return of goalkeeper Matt Murray (hip) and Jackie McNamara (ankle).
Rob Edwards continues to struggle with a knee injury and Carl Cort is still sidelined following knee surgery.

Keeper Matt Murray has modestly shrugged aside further international attention to insist that getting fit and helping Wolves into the play-offs are his overriding priorities after being linked with a call-up from Nigeria.
But he remains unclear over his eligibility for the West African country and says he is concentrating on domestic football for now.
His under-21 recognition with England does not tie him to the country of his birth as far as senior caps are concerned.

Murray said on WOW: "A reporter, who is apparently a friend of Seyi Olifinjana's, came to see me and asked whether I might be interested in playing for Nigeria.
"My biological Dad is Nigerian but I see myself as English and have had no Nigerian culture in my life.
"I was also adopted at birth, so I don't know whether it's what's on my adoption certificate that counts, or what's on my birth certificate.
"It's flattering because Nigeria are a massive football nation but it's come completely out of the blue. There has been nothing official and I haven't been called up. To talk about anything happening on the international front is premature.
"I have enough to concentrate on here for now."

Keeper Jan Budtz has happily taken on his bit-part role at Molineux and accepted he will not figure in the play-offs.
The big Dane followed up the good impact he made on his debut in last month's draw at Sheffield Wednesday by going on again for Matt Murray at Sunderland on Saturday and then starting for the first time against Hull two days later.
But despite impressing once more, he will be forced to say his Molineux farewells before the end of this month.

He said on WOW "I think it's April 28, the day of the home game against QPR, when my 93 days on loan here are up, and apparently there's no way that can be extended, whether or not we are in the play-offs.
"I will be sad to go, especially as my parent club Doncaster are missing the play-offs in League One, but I understood the situation when I arrived. I knew I was coming here to be a substitute because Matt is a top keeper and he'll play when he's fit.
"Playing in my position, I have to train every day as if I'm going to be playing - and then be prepared to sit on the bench. But, equally, I have to be sharp because I might be needed at a moment's notice, as I was at Sheffield and Sunderland.
"Some keepers sit on the bench for the whole season, so I'm grateful for this spell at a brilliant club. I've really enjoyed playing in front of the amazing Wolves fans and glad to have played a part in helping them up to fifth over Easter.
"With Matt, Carl Ikeme, Wayne Hennessey and Michael Oakes also here, Wolves have so much strength and depth in the goalkeeper department. I wouldn't think there are many Premiership clubs with more cover than that.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey has been recalled from his loan spell at Stockport County by Wolves, while Denes Rosa has also returned to Molineux.
Hennessey was due to spend a further week with Stockport, but was called back by Wolves after an injury to Matt Murray.
The youngster, who has yet to make his senior debut for Mick McCarthy's side, was on the bench for Monday's 3-1 win over Hull City.
During his time at Stockport, Hennessey made 15 appearances and kept a record-breaking nine clean sheets in a row.

Also returning is midfielder Rosa he opted to return to Molineux after a month on loan at Cheltenham Town.
Rosa made four appearances for the League One side and Cheltenham boss John Ward confirmed the player's exit.

Mick McCarthy said: "It was a game we were expected to win but they made it hard for us in the end.
"I was ill with the way we gave away that goal. It made things nervy and it shouldn't have been like that.
"I made some changes today and the one up front paid off.
"I told Jay not to come knocking on my door because he thought someone else wasn't playing well but to knock because he was playing great.
"I could tell he was chomping at the bit today and he scored two classic centre forward goals. He deserves some credit.
"I didn't like being out of the top six and I'm delighted we are back in there. But it's concertinaing up behind us so we've got to keep it up."

18mins: GOAL, Bothroyd heads Wolves into the lead.
33mins: Yellow card, Forster.
39mins: GOAL, Olofinjana doubles Wolves lead.
41mins: Yellow card, Parlour.
Half Time: Wolves 2-0 Hull.
46mins: Hull substitutions, Marney on for Vas Te and Elliott on for Peltier.
47mins: GOAL, Bothroyd gets his second and Wolves third.
49mins: Yellow card, Ashbee.
57mins: Wolves substitution, N Collins on for McNamara.
61mins: Goal, Forster pulls one back.
68mins: Yellow card, Olofinjana.
78mins: Hull substitution, Bridges on for Parlour.
78mins: Wolves substitution, Gleeson on for McIndoe and Ward on for Bothroyd.
85mins: Yellow card, Ward.
Full Time: Wolves 3-1 Hull.

Wolves: could be without goalkeeper Matt Murray after he picked up a side injury during Saturday's defeat at Sunderland - and Jan Budtz stands by to deputise.
Jackie McNamara could be handed a recall but fellow defender Rob Edwards misses out with a knee injury.

Hull: midfielder Nicky Barmby could start for the first time since he suffered an ankle injury on 13 January.
Dave Livermore, who recently underwent surgery on his knee, could feature after missing City's last two matches.

Match Reaction

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said: "It's never nice when you lose anywhere but remember who we were playing.
"Sunderland will take some stopping because Roy has brought in some very good players.
"Jonny Evans looks a superb player and Nyron Nosworthy was outstanding, although I don't remember him ever wanting to play centre-back for me!
"But I've enjoyed being back because I've got a lot of happy memories from the place.
"It was always going to be the toughest task of the weekend for anyone of the top six to eight sides, but I thought we acquitted ourselves well."

15mins: Goal, Sunderland take the lead through Murphy.
Half Time: Sunderland 1-0 Wolves.
51mins: Yellow card, Nosworthy.
62mins: Wolves substitution, Bothroyd on for Kightly
63mins: Goal, Wallace gets Sunderland's second.
65mins: GOAL, Keogh pulls one back for Wolves.
71mins: Sunderland substitution, Leadbitter on for Simpson (injured).
72mins: Wolves substitution, Budtz on for Murray (injured).
72mins: Sunderland substitution, Elliott on for John.
79mins: Yellow card, Whitehead.
82mins: Wolves substitution, C Davies on for S Ward
82mins: Sunderland substitution, Connolly on for Wallace.
85mins: Yellow card, Keogh.
85mins: Yellow card, Miller.
Full Time: Sunderland 2-1 Wolves.

Sunderland: 2

D Ward, Simpson, Evans, Edwards, Whitehead, Murphy, Nosworthy, D Collins, John, Wallace, Miller.

Subs: Elliott (72), Leadbitter (71), Varga, Connolly (82), Fulop.

Cards: Yellow: Nosworthy, Whitehead, Miller. Red: None.

Wolves: 1

Murray, N Collins, Olofinjana, Breen, Clapham, Potter, S Ward, Little, McIndoe, Kightly, Keogh.

Subs: Craddock, McNamara, Bothroyd (62), C Davies (82), Budtz (72).

Cards: Yellow: Keogh. Red: None.

Attendance: 40,748.

Sunderland: boss Roy Keane will have a near full-strength squad available.
Dwight Yorke played no part in last week's win at Cardiff (calf), but should return along with Stephen Elliott (ankle) and Carlos Edwards.

Wolves: Jackie McNamara has completed a two-game suspension, but Rob Edwards is out (medial knee ligaments).
A damaged spleen means Karl Henry is unlikely to feature again before the end of the season and Carl Cort has yet to regain fitness after knee surgery.

3rd April 2007

Friendly Announced

Wolves have announced a reserve friendly against Cardiff at Compton Park on Tuesday 17th April with a 12.30pm kick-off.
The away friendly at Blackburn, which was originally scheduled for that week, has been called off because of Rovers' involvement in a County Cup game.
Coach Terry Connor is hoping to arrange more friendly games before the end of the season.

2nd April 2007

Olofinjana Happy At Molineux

Wolves midfielder Seyi Olofinjana has reacted angrily to a report in a Nigerian newspaper that he wants to quit Molineux this summer. The article claimed that Seyi wanted to move to a 'big' Premiership club.
The angry midfielder insisted he is happy at Wolves and revealed he has already opened negotiations regarding a new contract. The 26-year-old current deal is until June 2008.

Speaking to Wolves World Seyi said: "I would have preferred everything to have been done (with my contract) before I put it into the public domain but I want fans to know that Wolves is a club after my own heart.
"This article is rude and nasty. I didn't say those things and I will be contacting the Nigerian FA because I am unhappy with this."

1st April 2007

Match Reaction

The remarkable score line represented Wolves worst defeat at Molineux since being beaten 6-0 by Liverpool in 1968. However, in 1976 Wolves were beaten 6-2 at home by Southampton but bounced back to win promotion out of the old second Division and into the top flight as champions.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said: "I love omens like that, but right now there is not a lot we can do, other than take this defeat on the chin.
"I think 'stunned' would sum up my reaction.
"I do not know how easy it is to analyse a game like that because in the early part of the game we were bang at it but gave away the first too easily, then there was an own goal and their third was a world-class finish to beat Matt Murray.
"In the second half we tried to get on as many forwards as we could and I knew that would leave us bare at the back so I will take responsibility for the three goals in the second half.
"But at 3-0 we were already on a beating and it might as well be 6-0 as 3-0.
"At times like this is very easy to be negative and the question now is whether we can respond at Sunderland next Saturday."