Wolves outcasts are warned: Go or sit in the stands
Wolves today took a hardline stance with their returning loan players by issuing the ultimatum: Go or sit in the stands for a year.
Roger Johnson, Stephen Ward, Kevin Doyle, Kevin Foley, Tongo Doumbia, Razak Boukari, Georg Margreitter, and Bjorn Sigurdarson are due back at Molineux when their seasons end, and all have at least a year left on their contracts.
Chief executive Jez Moxey insists the club will look to move them on permanently – while the unwanted Jamie O'Hara will not receive settlement on the two remaining years on his contract.
"I think by and large we'll be looking to move the vast majority of those players on if they want to," said Moxey.
"If they want to try to put pressure on us from a financial point of view, so be it.
"They're under contract so we can't make them move, but the coach doesn't have to play them. They're out on loan for a reason.
"So do they want to sit in the stand for a whole year? It's up to them.
"The same applies to Jamie: He must understand something's got to be different for him going forwards.
"There are no plans to pay anyone up and we won't be doing that.
"It's going to be a big focus of our attentions this summer and we'll play the inevitable game of poker with them."
Moxey instead urged those players to follow the example of Ward, who has played 42 Championship games for Brighton.
"Stephen Ward has been outstanding," said Moxey. "He could have stayed at Wolves and probably sat in the stand all season. But he chose not to and that was very wise."
Moxey insisted the futures of the returning players won't affect Kenny Jackett's team-strengthening.
"It will be the same as this season - those players will not be allowed to affect anything we're trying to do," he said.
"We've been very focused from the start on getting this team right and we'll deal with the other issues separately.
"That's why it's as much to do with the players as anything.
"They've got contracts so we pay them.
"But they're professional footballers, which means they should want to be playing, so they've got to find a way of doing that."
As for Doumbia, who tweeted congratulations to Wolves, Moxey said: "I was talking to his people yesterday morning.
"Those discussions will take place in earnest as the close season unfolds."
