Wolves teamwork is what it's all about for Paul Lambert
Of late, the focus at Wolves has very much been on player performances and results.
But for Paul Lambert, achieving the success everyone craves next season will come from stability off the field as much as on it.
Lambert is part of a four-man team – along with sporting director Kevin Thelwell, managing director Laurie Dalrymple and Fosun’s Jeff Shi – who will be looking to make the right decisions in the transfer market and on a host of off-field issues in the coming months.
Lambert knows from first-hand experience how an unhappy boardroom has a direct impact on the team’s performance.
He hasn’t been shy is saying how he was sold down the river at Villa and made promises that weren’t kept at Blackburn.
But the boss is happy with what he’s found at Wolves.
“We get on well,” he said of the quartet. “There’s a good working relationship there and we get on well as people.
“There’s dialogue, which I always think the most successful sides have that dialogue off the pitch, everybody talks and everybody more or less goes the same direction.
“Where you get problems is when somebody says one thing and somebody does another.
“We have to be together, be strong and stay on the same road. If you do that through good and bad you’ve got a better chance of being successful.
“You will come through things and come through adversity and pick up the good things at the end of it. That’s a really big factor for me.”
Shi spoke yesterday of the importance of Wolves’ supporters to the club’s future success. He wants a full Molineux with a vibrant atmosphere. Lambert, too, has been keen to stress how the supporter-team relationship will be vital for Wolves.
And he believes little changes like holding open training sessions can make a big difference.
“Norwich had a great rapport with the supporters – the players and everyone behind the scenes – which was really successful,” Lambert said of his former club.
“That’s why when I came here I’ve tried to get the supporters involved with open training.
“I don’t know if it was a bit distant beforehand, but the fans are a big part of the club and we have to use them, let the kids come in because they’re the club’s lifeblood.
“And after games too, it’s important players go to the supporters.
“If we can keep doing that and more – integrate everyone – it’ll be a lot better.
“It’s really nice the season ticket numbers are up. It’s going the right way. Small steps, but at it’s going the right way.
“You can see it, even on Saturday the fanbase, and it’s an expectant fanbase which I think you have to have. You need it to help you across the line in certain times.”
Wolves will hope for a bumper Bank Holiday crowd tomorrow for the visit of leaders Brighton.
The Seagulls were also top of the table when they played at Molineux last season for a 0-0 draw.
You suspect both teams wouldn’t be too disappointed with a point tomorrow, although Brighton know that yet another victory will move them to within touching distance of the Premier League.
Wolves hope to have Helder Costa available again but Carl Ikeme is likely to miss out again with a hamstring injury.
