Shropshire Star

Wolves managerial situation 'needs sorting'

Andy Thompson believes the current uncertainty at Wolves is unsettling for the club.

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Paul Lambert and Jeff Shi in happier times

It's been two weeks since it became known that Paul Lambert's future was seriously in doubt.

It's still believed he will leave the club, with Fosun currently searching for his successor. Aitor Karanka, Nuno Espirito Santo and Marco Silva have all been eyed up as possible candidates.

But with silence still emanating from Molineux, ex-player Thompson has called for the situation to be finalised as soon as possible.

He said: "It's not great – fans and players want to know what's going on.

"It's unsettling not knowing whether Lambert is staying. I'm sure even the coaching staff want to know.

"It just needs sorting out asap. The longer it goes on the less time people have to get their players in, what they want to do next season, etc.

"I'm sure elements of planning for next season are done but at the end of the day everything revolves around how the first team is doing."

Thompson watched almost every Wolves game this season as part of his radio commentary duties.

While not 100 per cent convinced by Lambert he said any head coach or manager needed a full pre-season before they could be properly judged.

And Thompson, who played 451 times for Wolves and is 11th on their all-time appearance list, believes that any extra influence agent Jorge Mendes wields over recruitment is dangerous.

"That was always going to be a stumbling block," Thompson said.

"Paul wanted to be in charge of who comes into the club. It's his head on the block so I think that's fair enough.

"I don’t know if I agree with it myself, having others in charge of transfers or agents getting too involved.

"We don’t want to be a club that had the amount of players we had last summer and nothing coming of it, finishing 15th again.

"Its about consistency. If you're in charge of first team affairs you have to have input of who’s coming in.

"Otherwise it's just going to prevent him by doing the job he wants to do and playing the way he wants. He’s got to be judged from a pre-season onwards.

"Any manager will say that a full pre-season is one of the biggest things you can have

"He should be given one and judged on what happens after that.

"He came in halfway through last season with a big squad. He’ll want to put his own stamp on everything from the beginning of a season.

"If it doesn’t start well and he’s had the opportunity, fine. But to not give him that opportunity or a pre-season is harsh.

"It seems to me they've been waiting for the Premier League and other leagues to finish so that managers become available.

"But you want it sorted sooner rather than later."