Wolverhampton Wanderers don finally collect their relegation ticket from Premier League. The confirmation come on Monday after West Ham United and Crystal Palace play 0-0 draw. Na so Wolves season just end for Premier League after eight years for top flight.
Manager Rob Edwards dey try put the pieces together since November when dem bring am from Middlesbrough. But the work don too hard. The team don dey bottom of table since week three of the season, with only three wins total. Handed near impossible task, Edwards no fit save them.
The problems for Wolves don dey pile up for years. Fans don dey protest against owners Fosun and former executive chairman Jeff Shi. The anger don spread to the terraces as the team start the season very bad. Wolves don dey circle the drain and now dem don finally sink.
One big reason for the downfall na how dem no replace their best players after selling big names. Raul Jimenez, Diogo Jota, Ruben Neves, Matheus Cunha and Rayan Ait-Nouri all don leave over past few years. The signings wey dem bring no fit help at all.
Summer 2024 signings no dey regular for team. Only Rodrigo Gomes and Sam Johnstone dey part of matchday squad. January 2025 signings like Emmanuel Agbadou, Nasser Djiga and Marshall Munetsi come to help keep Wolves up, but Agbadou don sell to Besiktas last month while Djiga and Munetsi go on loan.
Even last summer signings don scatter. Winger Jhon Arias don sell to Palmeiras for just over £20m after coming from Fluminense. Fer Lopez return to Celta Vigo on loan. No Premier League experience come join after losing Cunha to Manchester United and Ait-Nouri to Manchester City.
Former director of professional football Domenico Teti sign off on these signings before he leave days after Victor Pereira sack. Pereira self dey unhappy with how business dey slow. He feel say he no get his first-choice players – to the point where he regret staying and signing new contract.
At that time Wolves feel say value dey for European market. Ladislav Krejci loan from Girona na their best business. But David Moller Wolfe, Tolu Arokodare and Jackson Tchatchoua arrive for combined £45m with minimal impact.
Fans frustration reach boiling point for October. Dem chant “You’ve sold the team – now sell the club” at Molineux. Jeff Shi interview with BBC WM for December no land well with supporters when he appear to brush off relegation. The under-fire executive chairman leave barely six weeks after Pereira firing.
Shi departure after almost decade remove toxic focal point for fans, but anger against Fosun remain. Fosun still dey committed to club despite looking for investment into Fosun Sports Group. Dem hold talks with former Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor for October.
Wolves don get six permanent managers since Nuno Espirito Santo leave for 2021 – seven if you count Steve Davis eight-game interim spell for 2022. Fosun go mark 10 years of ownership this summer. Early success don give way to slow decline.
Nuno take Wolves to promotion for 2018 and two successive seventh-place finishes. Europa League quarter-finals and FA Cup semi-final follow. He leave after finishing 13th. Despite 10th place under Bruno Lage for 2022, Wolves don slowly slip to 13th, 14th and then 16th last season.
Julen Lopetegui, Gary O'Neil and Pereira all feel say dem no get backing wey dem want. But now get more synergy between new hierarchy. Nathan Shi appoint as executive chairman for December. Matt Jackson promote to technical director. Edwards dey work with them.
Nathan Shi dey more willing to understand wetin club need – and try provide am. Predecessor Jeff Shi for don more resistant to change. The situation resemble Leicester and Southampton last season.
For this season, Molineux don difficult at times. Pereira and Jorgen Strand Larsen argue with fans after last-gasp defeat by Burnley for October. But Edwards restore some unity since he join.
Edwards lose his opening seven games but slowly improve the squad. Running stats don up, intensity improve and Edwards popular among the squad. He dey work well with assistant Harry Watling.
The win over Aston Villa for February provide moment where bond with supporters fit stick. Edwards sprint down touchline after Rodrigo Gomes stoppage-time clincher as fans go wild. Dem don earlier chant “1-0 to the Championship”, signalling acceptance of their fate.
January win over West Ham give glimmer of hope after Wolves set Premier League record with 19-game winless start. Draws against Everton and Newcastle aid that hope. But Wolves need at least one win from those two games to maintain hopes of improbable comeback.
Defeat by Bournemouth at end of January change the tone. That na reason for late business in transfer window. Strand Larsen leave for Crystal Palace for £48m on deadline day. Angel Gomes and Adam Armstrong arrive with next season’s Championship campaign in mind.
Wolves need start rebuilding process early. Relegation don dey long time coming. Financially Wolves dey stable despite relegation. Manchester United and Rayan Ait-Nouri deal worth £36m to Manchester City last summer help.
Those assets dey dwindle but more departures expected. Midfielders Joao Gomes and Andre anticipated to leave. 18-year-old Mateus Mane fit also leave. The Portugal Under-21 international become one of season’s emerging stars and rare bright spot after breaking through to first team.
Matt Doherty out of contract. Angel Gomes fit return to Marseille, although Wolves get option to make his loan permanent. Internal talks over transfers dey ongoing. Edwards fit resurrect move for Torino forward Che Adams after failing to land him for winter window.
Wolves get five games left after poor defeats at West Ham and Leeds. Dem need finish strongly, especially for Edwards. Club get recent habit of ending seasons badly, which then affect following campaign.
For 2021-22, one win for their final nine matches ensure difficult start for Lage. He replace by Lopetegui by December. Under Gary O’Neil dem win one of their last 11 games for 2023-24. He don go before Christmas after winning just two of opening 16 matches for 2024-25.
Edwards no fit afford suffer same fate. He don endure nightmare return to Championship with Luton when end with his exit and Hatters suffering successive relegations. Fans get doubts – regardless of how he don improve the side – given Wolves never get close to escaping bottom three.
Edwards don state say Wolves no fit waste time for transfer market given dem know their fate early. He cite his experience from Luton as why he know how to deal with things this time. Any delays or failures go naturally put pressure on popular head coach.
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