Comment: Wolves clearout begins amid confusion

Quite who was involved in the discussions leading to the decision-making process of Wolves' retained list isn't exactly crystal clear.

As sporting director, Kevin Thelwell has overseen the list and of course it's had to be signed off by Fosun.

But who's had the ultimate final say – what of Paul Lambert's involvement? The head coach, believed to be on borrowed time barring a major 180-degree u-turn, told the Express & Star 10 days ago that "Kevin will sort out that side of it".

As a hands-on head coach, though, he will of course have wanted a big say in who stays and who goes. It's believed the decisions/announcements were delayed owing to the current managerial vacuum but Wolves have elected to press on regardless, surely mindful that the hot-seat situation could be up in the air for a while yet.

Wolves correspondent Tim Spiers analyses the comings and goings.

Mike Williamson (released)

A really tough call. Impressed in almost every one of his 11 Wolves appearances (in which the team have kept seven clean sheets).

But therein lies the problem...11 appearances in almost two years of football means his time at the club will be considered a failure.

By all accounts the 33-year-old is a key dressing room influence whom the younger players turn to for advice. And on the pitch his presence has notably improved the performances of those around him.

Williamson insisted he was over his injury problems, having suffered no major issues previously in his career. Wolves, though, are moving on without him.

He'll likely be picked up by a Championship rival – and you wouldn't bet against him doing well.

Silvio (discussions ongoing)

Similar to Williamson in that injury has wrecked his brief time at Wolves and he's still made his mark when playing, albeit from just five appearances.

Dissimilar to Williamson in that this is nothing new for 29-year-old Silvio, who arrived at Wolves with a questionable injury record and has made just 28 appearances in four seasons.

Wolves are short of full-backs and should he stay injury-free Silvio looks a class act. It's interesting that Wolves do have an automatic option but haven't decided what to do yet.

Considerations may include waiting for the head coach's future to be decided, or looking around for a club who may be willing to pay money for him should they take up the option year. As a player who's spent his whole career at clubs with which Jorge Mendes has links, that shouldn't be a problem.

Richard Stearman (loan expired)

After one surprise comeback last summer, there won't be a second, so after 254 appearances and eight years' service, Wolverhampton-born Stearman looks to have played his last game in gold and black.

He's a player who splits opinion but there is absolutely no doubting his commitment to – and his love for – Wolverhampton Wanders.

Stearman has served the club with distinction and certainly left his mark, no matter how small, on Wolves' history. The opening goal at Anfield will be remembered for years to come.

On Easter Monday he and Williamson gave near faultless displays in a backs-to-the-wall 1-0 win. They've both now left the club...it goes without saying that buying experience, commanding centre halves this summer has now become a priority.

Jack Price (one-year option taken up)

In theory he's staying but it's understood Wolves will sell Price if a club meets his valuation.

The popular midfielder, who came through the academy, hasn't kicked on this season as he'd have liked. Walter Zenga froze him out and then a lifeline was handed by Paul Lambert who instantly restored Price to the XI and showered him with praise.

Been in and out the team ever since, though (and shunned for most of the final two months) with inconsistency his achilles heel.

Depending on who's in charge next season he may yet get one final chance to really kick on and be the domineering, controlling midfield player he has so often (but not often enough) threatened to be. If not, he won't be short of Championship offers.

George Saville (one-year option taken up)

His future, despite being given an extra year, is also unclear.

If Lambert were to stay in charge you suspect he'd be in and around the squad again, given he made 30 appearances last season.

Lambert said after Saville struggled out of position at left back at Derby last month: "These are the type of characters you need when things don't go your way, you put your shoulder to the wheel."

Seen as limited by some and reliable by others...the truth lies somewhere in between. Yet to consistently nail down that first-team place though after three years at the club.

James Henry (released)

This is a scenario that didn't look likely a year ago.

Henry enjoyed a productive 2015/16 season under Kenny Jackett when he was Wolves' most consistent creative player and provided seven goals.

Zenga didn't take to him and with the arrivals of Costa, Cavaleiro and Teixeira he was shipped out to League One Bolton, where he surprisingly didn't make an impact and started just 12 league matches.

Wolves could have done with him towards the back end of 2016/17 when Costa's injury led to Weimann filling in on the right.

A surprise that Wolves haven't taken his one-year option up and looked to sell him, given that aged 27 he would surely command at least double the £250,000 fee Wolves paid for him in January 2014.

Andreas Weimann (talks ongoing)

A decision surely linked to Lambert, with the pair having enjoyed working together both at Villa and Wolves.

The Scot has made no secret his desire to sign Weimann for an agreed fee (believed to be £1.5m) in a deal that Derby can't renege on.

Scored three goals during his loan spell from Derby but was frustratingly shunted out to the wing on too many occasions.

Would have been interesting to see how many goals he'd have scored playing up front for four months. Regardless of where he was on the pitch his work ethic was phenomenal at times (Lambert dubbed him a 'freak of nature') and at £1.5m for a 25-year-old with Premier League pedigree Wolves would be daft not to take the plunge – if Weimann wants to stay.

Duckens Nazon (one-year option taken up)

Yes, Duckens Nazon. The Haiti international striker was the extreme left-field first signing of the January transfer window.

He was handed a six-month deal with the option of a further year...and despite an underwhelming six months for the under-23s (Lambert said in February he arrived unfit) in which he's only scored twice, Nazon could be set to stay.

Aged 23 the striker will either be sold on for a profit or is set to feature in the first team squad next season...because hanging around the under-23 squad for the next 12 months surely isn't an option, especially as it could stymie the progress of the likes of academy strikers Donovan Wilson and Niall Ennis.

A strange one.

Conclusions

There have been some difficult decisions to make and it's certainly not been as cut and dried as last year's list.

High on Wolves' agenda this summer will be a substantial clearout and they've got the ball rolling on that front.

In Williamson, Henry and Stearman – the only certain departures – you have three solid, experienced, British pros who know the Championship. With Price likely to leave too and the future of Saville unclear, it looks like the so-called 'cosy club', as many fans have come to dub it, could be about to be broken up.

What follows in its place – and who is asked to pull it all together – remains very much unknown.