Mick McCarthy ready to break up Wolves squad

Mick McCarthy today predicted the next stage of his Wolves rebuilding will not be easy as he prepares for a Molineux clear-out this summer.

The Wolves boss admits he has to "break up" his squad rather than "shatter" it as he prepares to open the door to as many as a dozen players who will need to leave to regain regular first-team football as part of his rebuilding process.

A host of players headed by out-of-contract homegrown duo Daniel Jones and Mark Little, plus Matt Hill, Jason Shackell and George Friend and last summer's arrivals Greg Halford, Andrew Surman and Stefan Maierhofer are likely to be among those allowed to go.

It also seems highly unlikely the club will extend the loans of Segundo Castillo and Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, while Kyle Bennett one of seven Academy graduates handed one-year contracts 12 months ago has already been on trial at Leicester and Port Vale.

More departures could be on the way, depending on whether certain players are prepared to continue competing for places after failing to secure regular starts.

This group includes Chris Iwelumo, Sam Vokes and possibly even Richard Stearman, who has failed to start in the latter stages of the campaign in the last two seasons.

"None of it is easy because it's a well-run club and it's a happy place," said the boss.

"People enjoy being here and there's a really good team spirit.

"Breaking that up is never easy, but I've got to do it. I haven't got to shatter it but the players have formed a great bond and some will go.

"But then some will want to go as well because they won't want to be sat here being a squad player."

McCarthy will not be announcing any decisions until after Sunday's final game of the season against Sunderland.

By Tim Nash