Shropshire Star

Laurie Dalrymple speaks of Wolves' elation at promotion

Managing director Laurie Dalrymple summed up Wolves' emotions after winning promotion as he said: "We're thrilled and elated."

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Nuno Espirito Santo and Laurie Dalrymple (© AMA / Sam Bagnall)

Fulham's 1-1 draw with Brentford confirmed Wolves' promotion to the top flight with four games to spare.

Players and staff watched the game at their pre-match hotel and there were ecstatic scenes when the final whistle blew at Craven Cottage.

"This is the culmination of a huge amount of hard work from everyone within the club...from the players, the coaching team, the management team and the fans, I can't say enough about the fans this year they've just been absolutely amazing," Dalrymple told Sky Sports.

"We're thrilled. Everyone's hugely elated. We're keeping a reasonable lid on it because we've got a game tomorrow but not in any way understating our excitement and satisfaction at what we've achieved this season.

"It was a little bit touch and go towards the end of the (Fulham) match, we were kind of resigned to the fact that game was going to finish 1-0 and we were going to go out and do it all ourselves tomorrow.

"We're extremely happy we've achieved it but it's one step in the long term plan.

"When we finish the season we'll start focusing on what the future looks like for this club.

"We've been in this game long enough that we don't take anything for granted and Nuno in his regular post-match interviews has rightfully remarked on the fact no one is getting carried away.

"It's taken one game, one week at a time.

"We've just been focusing as much as possible in the short term but clearly in some of the areas you have to be a bit more forward thinking. We've done some planning but we've been largely focused on getting the job done this season.

"Planning for next season is a nice problem to have."

Nuno Espirito Santo has guided Wolves to the Premier League in his first season in charge.

Dalrymple paid tribute to the head coach. He said: "What Nuno's brought in has been fantastic.

"He came in, he's changed the playing style, we've recruited well, he's galvanised the group in a very short space of time and very quickly he had us playing a different brand of football that was delivering results extremely quickly.

"He's a superb tactician, strategist and man manager. He's extremely good with the players and staff.

"I don't want to single people about because it's been a unified club effort from start to finish but there's no doubting he's an incredibly important component in the whole thing."

Wolves now play Blues at Molineux and will want three points to all-but guarantee they'll be champions. Victory will put them 12 points ahead of Cardiff, who have four to play and an inferior goal difference.

"We want to finish the league as champions and in order to do that we've got to put all our focus into playing what will be a very difficult Birmingham side," Dalrymple added.

"It's all eyes down for a big game tomorrow."