Express & Star Saturday, March 16, 2013 ES www.expressandstar.com 39 What’s happened to Wolves’ Wembley wonders? Paul Bradshaw Geoff Palmer Derek Parkin Peter Daniel Emlyn Hughes George Berry Kenny Hibbitt Willie Carr Andy Gray Age: 56. Served Age: 58. Left Wolves Age: 65. Wolves’ Age: 57. Left Wolves Died in 2004 aged Age: 55. Left Wolves Age: 62. Left Wolves Age: 63. Joined Mill- Age: 57. Won the Three-point plan Vancouver White- after his second record appearance for Minnesota Strik- 57 from a brain in 1982 and played in 1984, continuing wall from Wolves in League, FA Cup and caps, Albion, Peter- spell to join the maker continued his ers in 1984 and tumour. After man- for Stoke, Peterbor- his career with 1982 and served European Cup Win- borough and police force in 1986 top-flight career with appeared at Wemb- aging Rotherham, ough, Preston and Coventry then Bris- Stourbridge twice ners’ Cup with Ever- Newport County and served for 24 Stoke for two years ley for Sunderland he played for Hull Aldershot before tol Rovers before and Willenhall ton and rejoined after leaving Wolves years in the Walsall after leaving. Played and Burnley. Player- and became a suc- graduating with a managing Walsall, before retiring. Villa before spells to reverse the in 1984. Worked in area before retiring non-league for Har- boss at Lincoln cessful TV game business degree Cardiff and Hednes- Became a sales sell- with Albion, Rangers airport security but and living in Codsall. risons, he became a before managing show captain on and becoming com- ford. Now a Premier ing bearings and and Cheltenham. now retired and liv- Also captain of landscape gardener several non-league BBC’s Question of mercial executive of League referees’ lives near Bridg- Pundit for Sky and ing in his native Oxley Park Golf and is retired, living teams. Now a taxi Sport and Sporting the PFA. Lives in assessor living in the north. Wolves sea- now broadcasting Altrincham. Club. in Telford. driver in Hull. Triangles. Stoke. Cotswolds. son ticket holder. for talkSPORT. Molineux decline A VIEW of the malaise, misrule and misfortune at Molineux. Draw a line from the bed you were born in to the nearest professional football club: that’s probably your team, the team you support through thick and thin. And if that club happens to be Manchester United or Barcelona (or Wolves 70 years ago), then count your blessings – you have a team deserving of your loyalty. But if the team is Wolverhamp- John Richards Mel Eves Colin Brazier Wayne Clarke Norman Bell John McAlle Mick Kearns John Barnwell Richie Barker ton Wanderers, over the last 30 years or so, then with the Age: 62. Joined Por- Age: 57. Played for Age: 55. Left for the Age: 52. Joined Age: 57. Joined Age: 63. Joined Age: 62. After under- Age: 74. Managed Age: 73. Managed occasional blip of success your role has been a thankless tuguese side Mar- Manchester City, Jacksonville Tea Birmingham and Blackburn in 1982 Sheffield United and studying Paul Brad- AEK Athens, Notts Stoke, Notts County, and unrewarded labour of love. I was born three miles itimo for two years Sheffield United, Men in 1982. Later won the League with and stayed for two- won a Fourth Divi- shaw for two years, County, Walsall, Greek side Ethnikos along the A449 from Molineux; I know the pain. before retiring. Gillingham, Walsall played for Birming- Everton in 1987. and-a half years sion title medal the keeper rejoined Northampton and Piraeus and Egypt- I departed Wolverhampton some five years ago and now Returned to Wolves and Telford. Became ham, Lincoln, Wal- Played for Manches- before settling in the before finishing with Walsall in 1981 and Grantham after leav- ian giants Zamalek. live a thousand miles away; but the Wolves are still ‘my’ as director in 1994 an agent and runs sall, Kidderminster – ter City, Leicester, area. Had several second-tier Derby continues to serve ing Wolves in 1982. Assisted at Sheffield team. During those years I have not been to a single game then MD until 2000. his own sports where he won the Shrewsbury and sales-related jobs then non-league the Saddlers as Became League Wednesday and was Now running multi- agency Eleven FA Trophy – and Walsall. Player-man- before working with Harrisons. Set up as community director Managers’ Associa- Albion’s chief scout. at Molineux, so I do not feel qualified to comment too million pound online Sports in Wolver- Tamworth. Now a aged Telford and young offenders for a landscape gar- after several roles tion’s chief executive Now retired and liv- much on the recent performances of individual players. company Pitchcare hampton. Also man- self-employed now a sales rep for Blackburn and Dar- dener but retired including goalkeep- in 1996, still serving ing in Market Dray- I’ve seen highlights of the occasional game on TV,nothing in Telford. aged Willenhall. builder in Rugeley. Pepsi in Shropshire. wen Council. and lives in Tong. ing coach. on its committee. ton. more. But I don’t need to say much, do I? Sadly the team’s current position speaks for itself. Now, forgive me for stating the blindingly obvious, but if you don’t make changes for the better, matters can only get worse. I see three viable options for the future. It may be that Steve Morgan feels he needs someone with a thick hide to protect him from the fan-flak: hence his retention of the incumbent CEO. But if the club was seen to operate openly, ambitiously and progressively there Golden memories as simply wouldn’t be any legitimate flak. Reliable, veracious communication and interface with supporters is sadly lacking. Repeatedly the representative ‘voice of the club’ is Jez Moxey’s, and he has long since lost all credibility with anyone who holds Wolves dear. Time after time it is he who attempts to put a veneer of positive spin on glar- ingly erroneous business decisions. Just how stupid are Wolves supporters considered to be? In terms of irrespon- Wolves legends return sibility, desperation and clear lack of business acumen, the timing of the sacking of Mick McCarthy could hardly be exceeded – but, astoundingly, it was: with the subsequent appointment of Terry Connor. The poor man was failure- fodder from the outset. But Moxey’s disingenuous attempts to justify the whole sorry saga simply added insult to injury: yet another example of alienating the fan base with self-righteous, but completely untenable, grandiloquence. In his stead Mr Morgan needs someone with credibility who can connect with the customers. A second option is to find a buyer for the club. Someone who is prepared to run it on a genuine football basis, who will take decisive action when necessary and who is willing to prioritise the team investment required. Mr Morgan was given the club. The team itself may have proven them- selves be worth little, but the ‘bricks and mortar’ has sig- nificant value, as does the ‘brand’ and the customer base. He should be able to turn a decent profit. Hand it over to someone who is serious about success on the pitch. If neither of these proffered options is acceptable then it must be down to the supporters to bring about change. Personally I don’t see the point of demonstrations within the stadium (you have to pay to be in there so they’ve still got your money). I don’t see that abusing players on the pitch will do anything other than demoralise them even further – it certainly won’t encourage them to raise their game. As for organising street marches, who, of relevance, takes any notice? And venting one’s frustrations in writing Golden memories – Wolves’ players celebrate their League Cup victory over Last night – back row, Geoff Palmer, Andy Gray, George Berry, Colin Brazier, (as I am doing now) doesn’t achieve much either, other European champions Nottingham Forest, courtesy of a second-half goal from Norman Bell and Wayne Clarke with, front row, Richie Barker, Willie Carr, than release of a bit of tension. In my view there is only Andy Gray, as they parade the trophy around Wembley Mel Eves, John Richards and Kenny Hibbitt at the Copthorne Hotel one way to change things and that is to hit where it hurts most: the bottom line. No business can survive without a TIM NASH watches the legendary 1980 day smoker, but when you got him on the healthy customer base and in this instance that’s the sup- WHAT a twist of fate that Bristol training ground he was exceptional.” City were in the next room. Wolves side, which lifted the League porters. In the short term, fans should simply stay away Cup, come together again and enjoys a The ex-long-serving right-back also and save their money – maybe put it in a biscuit tin The hair might be greyer or thinner, but recalled the steadying influence of late cap- towards the day, hopefully not too far away, when there is most of Wolves’ 1980 stars looked as if they special night at the Copthorne Hotel tain Emlyn Hughes – on and off the pitch. a structure and a team at Molineux worthy of their sup- could give them a game now. “He used to say ‘leave the referee alone – port. On a night where the Wembley heroes As soon as he arrived, Gray was teasing Hib- I’ll have a word with him’, and to be fair he Name and Address supplied were celebrating the 33rd anniversary of bitt about how he owed him a drink 33 years got away with a few things,” said Palmer.