Express & Star

Wolves' title party will bring in 30,000

Wolves today announced another Molineux sell-out to celebrate the lifting of the League One trophy on Saturday – creating a 35-year high for home crowds.

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Tickets sold out yesterday afternoon in the home areas for Saturday's visit of Carlisle, the final game of the season which will see the team presented with the trophy in front of what should be a second successive 30,000-plus home crowd.

The Cumbrians, who need to win to have a chance of staying up after going to Crawley tonight in their game in hand, are still to sell out their allocation.

But as away fans have only been given the Stan Cullis Stand quadrant, hopes are high of a similar gate to the 30,110 that watched the amazing 6-4 win against Rotherham on Good Friday.

Not since October 1979 – following the excitement of signing Andy Gray for a then British record transfer fee of £1.469m – have Wolves attracted back-to-back home crowds of 30,000 in the league.

A gate of 35,503 watched Gray's scoring home debut in a 3-1 success against Manchester United on September 22, followed by 30,131 for a 0-0 draw against Derby on October 9.

Midfielder Kevin McDonald praised the support, with Molineux attendances averaging 20,471 and virtually every away game sold out.

"The support has been great all season – we've sold out virtually every away game and that doesn't happen very often," he said.

Meanwhile, Bakary Sako was today urged to stay at Wolves to take care of "unfinished business."

The explosive winger is expected to be a transfer target again this summer after scoring 13 goals and providing 14 assists this season.

That form saw him one of five Wolves players named in the PFA's League One team of the year with Carl Ikeme, Sam Ricketts, Danny Batth and McDonald. Sako, who turned 26 on Saturday, has a year left on his contract but will only be sold if a Premier League club comes in for him.

"I do think he's Premier League quality, but hopefully Sako will think he's got some unfinished business in the Championship and will want to help Wolves get back to the Premier League," said Dave Edwards, whose ninth goal of the season was set up by Sako in Saturday's 1-1 draw away to Coventry.

"He's definitely got the quality to play up there – you look at the quality of Wolves players in the past when we were in the top flight and I don't think there are many better wingers than him.

"He's got everything – he's so strong, quick and powerful and his assists and goals record is brilliant and you need someone like that in your team.

"He's got a year left on his contract and it's going to be a big decision for the club to make because there are going to be people interested in him because he's got so much quality.

"But I think everyone here wants him to stay because he's a match-winner."

Edwards believes Sako, who scored nine goals last season in the Championship, is a vital player to keep.

"It's definitely important to keep him," he said.

"Players like that are great to play with and it's a privilege to play with him."

"Hopefully we'll keep him and he'll be here for the Championship."

See also:

  • Bakary Sako urged to stay at Wolves

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