News Index

 
28th June 2002

Reserve Fixtures

Wolves have announced the reserves fixtures for their new Avon Insurance Premier League season.
They kick off on Wednesday 21st August against Walsall at the Bescot Stadium, who were promoted from the First Division last season.

26th June 2002

Pinxten Bid Rejected

Wolves boss Dave Jones has had a bid for target defender Harald Pinxten rejected by Royal Antwerp.
Jones interest in Pinxten started when he played against Wolves in a pre-season friendly last year and Jones had scouts constantly watching him for much of last season.
The Wolves boss offered a cash sum plus striker Cedric Roussel to Royal Antwerp hoping to get them to part with one of their star assets, but the Belgian team rejected the approach and it's not known if Jones will have the transfer funds to make straight cash bid.
Roussel has since had a season long loan with Mons arranged, starting on July 1st.
Jez Moxey said: "We have reached agreement with Mons, Cedric and his agent and, subject the necessary paperwork being finalised, he will join Mons on Monday, July 1, for a full season."
"However, we will have the option to recall him either to sell him or put him back in the squad in the month of January, 2003, which is when the new international ‘transfer window’ will be open."
Both Dave Jones and Jez Moxey wished the striker well on his move.

Transfers Start as Boss Returns

Wolves boss Dave Jones returned to Molineux on Tuesday morning after his summer break and the summer transfers have started.
Striker Cedric Roussel is the first player thought to be leaving as Wolves revealed he could be moving back to his home country Belgium. They are in discussions with RAEC Mons, negotiating a possible year-long loan deal.

24th June 2002

Tour Matches Confirmed

Wolves have confirmed two friendly games for the Portugal tour.
They will be playing  Sporting on Thursday, 18th July kick-off 6.pm, at the club’s brand new academy training centre based at Alcochete. Wolves second match is against Maritimo on Sunday 21st July  kick-off 6.pm. The game will be played at Rio Maior, which is situated around an hour’s trip north of Lisbon, Martimo normally play on the island of Madeira.
The Wolves players and staff will depart on Monday 15th July when they travel to their base at Portugal’s national training facility at Cascais, which is about twenty miles west of Lisbon on the Portuguese coast.

21st June 2002

Season Ticket Update

Wolves have announced they have beaten the season ticket sales they achieved for the whole of 2001-02.
The total figure has now climbed to 15,540, that's 19 more than the final figure last season.
14,301 season tickets were sold for the 2002-03 season in February and March when it looked like Wolves were heading towards promotion, but since missing out the total has steadily risen.

*Update*
I have worked out Wolves fixture change (from yesterday's news!) for their match at Ipswich scheduled for 17th September, it's now Wednesday 18th September!
 

20th June 2002

Friendly Ticket Prices

Wolves have released details of ticket prices and sale dates for the pre-season friendlies. Fans will be able to pay on the day at most of the games.

Saturday 13th July: Morecambe, K.O 3pm. 1500 seats and terraced tickets - £5 adults, £2 concessions. Pay on the day. The Travel Club will be offering a service departing at 10am at the cost of £10 adults and £8 concessions.

Saturday 13th July: Kettering, K.O 3pm. Seats - £8 adults, £5 concessions (under 16s, Over 65s), Uncovered Terraced - £6 adults, £4 concessions. Pay on the day. 

Wednesday 24th July: Kiddeminster, K.O 7.45pm. 1000 seats - £13 adults, £9 concessions. 1000 terraced - £10 adults, £7 concessions.  Pay on the day.

Saturday 27th July: Stockport, K.O 3pm. Tickets on sale from July 6. Advance Sales: 750 Covered seats - Adults £10, OAP/Student (valid full-time NUS card needed) £5, Juniors £2. Pay on the day: 1300 uncovered seats - £10 adults, OAP/Student £5, Juniors £2. Details of a Travel Club service is to be confirmed.

Wednesday 31st July: Cardiff, K.O 7.45pm. 2000 terraced tickets: On Sale from July 6. £8 adults, £6 concessions. A travel club service will be offered at £10 adults, £8 concessions, departing at 3pm.

For any further details call the Wolves ticket office on: 01902 653653.

Another Fixture Change

Another fixture has been changed and it's a confusing one!
Police have requested that the derby between Norwich City and Ipswich Town is moved to Sunday 15th. Which means Wolves match against Ipswich on Tuesday 17th September is being moved 24 hours, but at the moment I'm not clear which way!
But, the match could be changed again because the date clashes with the first round first leg tie of the UEFA Cup, which Ipswich are involved in. If they make it through the qualifiers then their first match will be on the same date as their match with Wolves.

19th June 2002

Injuries Update

Mark Kennedy has started some extra training at Lilleshall after missing out on the majority of Wolves end of season and Ireland's World Cup campaign with a groin injury.
To make sure he's ready to return at the start of July, Kennedy has been attending training sessions at Lilleshall where he has been working to a programme agreed by both Wolves and staff at the specialist football centre.
Midfielder Keith Andrews is now going to be out of action until October, it was revealed his knee needs more time to heal after he had surgery on his knee at the end of the season.
Injury prone George Ndah is fit again but his place in the first team is not guaranteed.
He was forced to undergo hernia surgery at the end of last season but he is now ready to get back to full fitness when the Wolves players report back for pre-season training on 1st July.

Fixtures Start To Change

Wolves have had their first fixture change for next season confirmed.
The visit of Sheffield Wednesday to Molineux on Bank Holiday Monday 26th August, is being moved to Tuesday 27th August with a 7.45pm kick-off.
The change is due to extensive demolition works taking place in Wolverhampton which is likely to cause  traffic problems.  The addition of match day traffic was expected to increase the risk of severe congestion in the city.
It is the first of many expected changes to be confirmed as at least another four of Wolves games may have to move. Also with the Euro 2004 qualifiers being held later in the year they will cause disruption to some fixtures.
 

18th June 2002

Bradford Given Deadline

Bradford City have been given until 16th July to prove they can start the 2002-03 season with their first opponents Wolves on 10th August.
The Yorkshire club went into administration at the end of last season and sacked 16 players in the spring because they couldn't afford to pay their wages.
Only five senior players remain on their books and have a grand total of 60 League games between them.
But new owners are expected to be announced and the club could start the season in two months time with nearly the same team as they ended last season with.
The players that where sacked are being advised by the PFA to report for training with Bradford on July 1st and the new owners are likely to be a consortium headed by current chairman Geoffrey Richmond.
 

17th June 2002

Transfer Gossip

Wolves have been linked with a possible £600,000 move for Nigeria and Royal Antwerp midfielder Justice Christopher, who is also interesting Bulgarian club Levski Sofia after having a trial with Manchester City last season.

Wolves assistant manager John Ward could become a target for Watford after the sacking of Gianluca Vialli.
But he is thought to be second favourite for the job behind Steve Coppell who recently resigned at Brentford. Ward worked at Watford during the 70's and 80's with Graham Taylor who recommended him for the job when Vialli was given it.

Sinton Keen To stay On

Andy Sinton has admitted he is keen on extending his career by taking up a coaching role at Molineux, Wolves boss Dave Jones told the board he wants to find a coaching role for the winger.
Sinton was hinting that he wanted to try and carry on playing for at least one more season and Walsall were one of the clubs looking to sign him, but he now accepts moving into coaching is a natural progression.
He said: "I made my league debut at 16 and I am now 36, so for 20 years it has been my life. Day in day out it has been football, football, football so you can't get away from it.
"When you feel that you cannot do justice to yourself any more moving into coaching is the natural step-up. It brings its own sort of pressures.
"But if football is in you then it is very difficult just to walk away and leave it behind. If it has been your life it is very difficult.
"So I think we will give it a go and see if it agrees with me. If it does, it does. If it doesn't it doesn't and I will go and do something else."

14th June 2002

Transfer Rumours

Ins: Wolves are rumoured to be about to make a swoop for Brentford's out-of-contract 24-year-old defender Ivar Ingimarsson.
Ipswich Town and Sheffield Wednesday have already expressed an interest in the player and other clubs are thought to be interested in him once his contract expires on June 30.
Newspaper reports in Iceland have added Wolves to the list of interested clubs.
Ingimarsson's favoured position is left-back but he can play anywhere in defence .

Outs: Colin Larkin could be the first striker to leave Molineux, Hull City boss Jan Molby is expected to make an improved offer for the youngster after he had a successful loan spell at Kidderminster Harriers when Jan Molby was in charge last season. Molby has had one offer turned down by Dave Jones.
There has still been no interest in strikers Cedric Roussel and Michael Branch since they were transfer listed.

Can The Commercials

I have been emailed this press release from the FFU:

Football Fans Union Press Release: Thursday 13 June 2002

WORLD CUP 2002

CAN THE COMMERCIALS CALLS ON ALL FANS TO BOYCOTT ITV

Calling all Football Fans to watch Gary not Des for the knockout stages…

The Football Fans Union (the FFU) has today announced that the ‘Can the Commercials’campaign is urging fans to boycott ITV and turnover to the BBC for the World Cup Finals’ knockout stages this weekend.

‘Can the Commercials’ urges all football fans to join together to boycott ITV in protest against Granada and Carlton’s role in the ITV Digital fiasco.

Following the success of ‘Can the Commercials’ during the broadcasts of the England and Ireland group matches on ITV, the campaign intensifies with the call for ALL supporters to boycott ITV and watch the BBC as the channels go head-to-head this weekend. The knock-out stages will be broadcast simultaneously by both ITV and the BBC.

The England match is expected to produce the highest ratings of the tournament with as many as 20 million viewers. Fans can display their discontent on a huge scale by switching off the ITV during the biggest tournament in the world, and hitting Granada and Carlton where it hurts.

The message is simple – CAN THE COMMERCIALS - FOLLOW THE GAME WITH THE BBC!

Fans can register support now at www.The-FFU.com

ROUND 9: THE WORLD CUP DREAM CONTINUES

YOU’LL BE HELPING ENGLAND AS WELL!!

Something to think about: according to an article in Time Out this week, England have excelled in the matches covered by the BBC during the last 3 World Cup Campaigns - winning four out of four on the BBC compared with losing four and drawing one on ITV!

Campaigns Director Alex Burmaster comments: “‘Can the Commercials’ is a long-term campaign designed to affect viewing figures over a long period of time. However, the joint broadcasts of the World Cup’s knockout stages provides an incredible opportunity for everyone to step up the intensity of the campaign by affecting the viewing figures right here and now.

“Fans need to really stick the boot into Carlton and Granada by watching these matches on the BBC and not ITV.If this isn’t reason enough, you’ll also be likely to increase England’s chances of winning judging by the results England get when they’re on the BBC compared to ITV!”

‘Can the Commercials’ is backed by footballing authorities including the Football League’s David Burns, PFA’s Gordon Taylor and LMA’s John Barnwell, and football fans up and down the country.

"I am fully supportive of the work being done by the Football Fans Union to give fans a chance to voice their disapproval over Carlton and Granada’s actions. This is something the fans can do to help while The Football League pursues Carlton and Granada through the courts to reclaim the £178.5 million that is due to our member clubs."
David Burns, Chief Executive - The Football League

"The PFA is pleased to support your campaign and use all its endeavours to support the Football League in its maintenance of its contract with ITV Digital and to protect the financial welfare of all clubs in the football league "
Gordon Taylor, Chief Executive – The PFA

"The League Managers Association is more than happy to support and endorse your excellent campaign which urges the honouring of contractual agreements."
John Barnwell, LMA Chief Executive

Previous rounds of ‘Can the Commercials’ have targeted ITV broadcasts, in protest against Granada and Carlton’s role in the ITV Digital fiasco.  The World Cup provides a unique opportunity for fans to increase the pressure on Carlton and Granada by boycotting the actual programme themselves without missing any of the action.

13th June 2002

2002/03 Fixtures

The fixtures lists for next season are out today, so keep checking back this morning to see the full list.

*UPDATE* Wolves first game is away against Bradford on Saturday 10th August 2002.

12th June 2002

No Change In Staff

Wolves assistant manager John Ward and coach Terry Connor look like they are to stay at Molineux despite Dave Jones's hint that he might change his backroom staff.
Jones has given no indication of bringing in anyone else after he promised to "leave no stone unturned" following last seasons failed promotion campaign and declining to give him a vote of confidence when questioned at a fans forum in May.
Ward will miss the start of the new season because he recently had to undergo a second hip operation.
 

11th June 2002

Hooligans Ruin Away Day

Football hooligans have ruined what was expected to be one of the biggest away games next season, because of the trouble after Millwall where knocked out of the play-offs Wolves fans and five other teams will not take fans to the New Den.
The proposals were announced today at a press conference in a joint statement from Millwall FC and the Metropolitan Police, Millwall also won't be bringing any fans to Molineux.
The other teams facing the ban are Burnley, Nottingham Forest, Stoke City, Portsmouth and Leicester City.
Wolves club secretary, Richard Skirrow said on the official site: "Whilst we understand that this will come as a disappointment to many fans, we hope that they will understand the need to help Millwall, and the game as a whole, to overcome the threat of violence."
"Most of us were appalled by the scenes on television after the play-off game and although this may seem extreme, it will hopefully go some way towards solving the problem."

9th June 2002

Wolves Masters

Wolves joined the Masters Football event for the first time this year with a team of former stars including Steve Bull, Andy Mutch, Andy Thompson, Wayne Clarke, Mike Stowell and Robbie Dennison and where managed by George Berry.
The Wolves team were in group one that played today in Belfast against last years champions Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa.
In their opening game Wolves beat Liverpool 4-0, then drew 0-0 with Everton and in the final game beat Aston Villa 3-0 to finish top of the mini league table and went on to a Grand Final match against Liverpool for a place in the next round.
But Liverpool found their form in the final and beat Wolves 2-0.
For more information on the tournament visit www.mastersfootball.com

6th June 2002

Transfer News

Wolves have been linked with an interest in West Brom youngster Adam Chambers .
The player's agent Mel Eves has told The Hawthorns club that some clubs are already closely monitoring him.
Albion have made a fresh offer to the 21-year-old former England youth international some weeks ago and they maintained it was satisfactory to both parties.
But Eves says it is not good enough and, unless a compromise can be reached, Chambers will start talking to other clubs waiting in the wings.

Wolves have insisted they have made no bid for Shaun Goater this time, but have said how close they came to signing him last summer. They had agreed a fee with City's chairman but at the last minute, Arthur Cox persuaded Kevin Keegan to keep him.
Chief executive Jez Moxey said "We have made no bid for Shaun Goater and we have not even discussed him."
"Even if he is available, I wouldn't want people to assume we were going to buy him just because we nearly got him last summer."
"Although we are not ruling out the idea that we might go for players under contract, I think we are mainly looking for now at the Bosman market unless we can unload."
"We are suffering the financial problems that all Nationwide clubs are from the ITV Digital collapse and I said long ago this would be a very quiet summer for transfers."

It's thought some of the Molineux board would like to see a younger look to the Wolves squad and that will ensure there will be no swoop for veteran Manchester United full-back Dennis Irwin or West Ham keeper Shaka Hislop, who now looks set to join Portsmouth, so boss Dave Jones will have to carry on his long search for a keeper.
But Dave Jones says a lot of work still needs to be done to improve the youth policy at Molineux, for more youngsters to come through the club.
He said: "We have a good youth policy but it is not good enough. Joleon Lescott has been a tremendous success for the club and, in time, I have no doubts he will become a full England international.
"We also have another very good young player who is destined to be a big star in Irish youngster Sammy Clingan. He is the next one who will come through the ranks into the first team."
"But we know we need more good youngsters to come through the club and it is something we are working on all the time."

Molineux transfers are expected to start at the end of the month when the rush to bring in new faces will begin and will also see players leaving.
Boss Dave Jones has a few players who have become surplus to requirements at Molineux including Strikers Cedric Roussel and Michael Branch who have been on the transfer list for some time and George Ndah and defender Darren Bazeley are also understood to be available.
Jones could have other players he is ready to sell including former Blackburn Rovers striker Nathan Blake after he failed to come up with the goals in the final weeks of the season.

Tickets Selling Well

Season ticket sales have broken through the 15,000 barrier with 15,053 sold so far that's more than 50 per cent up on this time last year when 10,000 people bought their ticket in advance of the 2001/02 season.
Adam Cooper from Tipton won the free ticket to the pre-season friendly against Newcastle United for buying the 15,000th season ticket.
 

5th June 2002

The Ecstasy and the Agony

The video of Wolves 2001-02 season goes on sale next Monday at £15 and has been called - The Ecstasy and the Agony. The video shows all the goals scored by the club home and away and is released on Monday 10th June.
*Update: The season review is also available on DVD for the first time for £17, but not until Monday 1st July.

World Cup

Ex-Wolves striker Robbie Keane grabbed a last minute equaliser against Germany, to give Ireland a 1-1 draw.

3rd June 2002

Transfer Update

Wolves boss Dave Jones is being linked with Man City striker Shaun Goater, Jones tried to sign Goater with a £2million bid last season but he stayed at Maine Road.
But Jones is hoping he will be more successful this time as City boss Kevin Keegan has signed Vicente Matias Vuoso and is about to complete the signing of Nicolas Anelka from Paris Saint Germain, which could see Goater surplus to requirements at Maine Road.
This makes Nathan Blake's future at Molineux uncertain as the 30-year-old striker scored just 11 goals in 38 league games last season, after his £1.5 million move from Blackburn.
So the Welsh International could join Michael Branch and Cedric Roussel on the transfer list.

2nd June 2002

World Cup

England have drawn their opening match against Sweden 1-1 with a goal from Sol Cambel. Ex-Wolves player Sami Aljaber captained Saudi Arabia, but they where beaten 8-0 by Germany.