Get it right this time, Wolves supporters tell Steve Morgan

Some fans questioned outside Molineux and the club's Compton training ground today backed Mr Morgan's decision to sack Saunders after five months in the job.

But others said the Welshman deserved more time to shape his own squad and claimed Mr Morgan was largely to blame for the club's slide into the third tier.

The chairman and Redrow Homes boss is now looking for his fifth manager in 15 months.

Student Gary Singh, aged 35, of Edmund Road, Dudley, has been a fan of the club all his life. He said: "I am not surprised that the sacking took place. The writing was on the wall for him as soon as relegation was confirmed. He should have done better with the squad of players he had taken on."

Season ticket holder Derek Shaw, 66, from Albrighton, said of Saunders: "He was never my choice. I wanted someone like Owen Coyle. I don't think Saunders ever had enough experience for the job.

"I think some of the senior players have a lot to answer for, and it will be a different squad next season. Many are out of contract while others will simply not want to play in League One. Players like Jamie O'Hara have proven toxic for the club."

Sales executive Liam Graham, aged 29, of The Riddings, Fallings Park, said: "I think it is a terrible decision. He hasn't had the chance to prove himself.

"He inherited a team from a previous manager and should have been given time to rebuild the squad.

"I don't know what we will do now, maybe Owen Coyle is the obvious option."

Paul Mansfield, 63, retired, of Lower Vauxhall in Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton said: "I just don't know what the owners are playing at. They sacked McCarthy and they didn't know what to do next. I think we are in the same position now.

"They should be sacking themselves."

Chris Hoskins, 27, finance officer at Wolverhampton City Council, of Dean Road, East Park, said: "I'm not surprised, although I think the sacking was premature, it would have been nice to have given him time to rebuild the squad and start the season in League One.

"We need a strong character to come in and get rid of some of the older players while bringing through the youth."

David Grosvenor, 33, of Willenhall Road, Wolverhampton, unemployed, said: "Dean Saunders was let down by the players, it's a shame they won't take responsibility for what has happened and it has ended up with Dean losing his job.

"It's become a sorry state of affairs."

Unemployed Phillip Reed, 19, of Lydian Close, Wolverhampton, welcomed Mr Morgan wielding the axe. He said: "I think the sacking is a good thing.

"I think now is the right time to get a new face in to freshen up the squad and improve the mentality of the players from a losing mentality to winning."

Richard Hardy, 38, from Wednesfield, has been a Wolves fan for 26 years. He headed to the club's training ground this morning when he heard the news. There was no sign of Saunders at Compton, and senior players David Edwards, David Davis, Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and George Elokobi declined to comment.

Mr Hardy said: "When we were in the Premier League and on our way down to the Championship, we sacked Mick McCarthy. who was the best manager for the Championship. Now we're on our way from the Championship down to League One, and we've sacked the best bloke for League One."

Self-employed decorator Daniel Kesztheoyi, 18, of Dunstall Road, Wolverhampton, was outside Molineux and claimed Saunders deserved more time. "I'm totally shocked, he was a decent manager who should have been given time, it's ridiculous getting rid of him after only five months," he said. "It is the players who are to blame, they let him down."

Printer Phil Mortimer, 45, from Tamworth, said: "The sacking hardly surprises me, I don't blame Dean because he shouldn't have been appointed in the first place."

Mr Morgan had given no mention of Saunders' future in a pre-prepared statement released after relegation.