Steve Morgan: Wolves boss Kenny Jackett has '100 per cent' backing

The Wolves owner used his first public address since February 2013 to tell a packed gathering of 710 at the club's end of season awards dinner at Telford International Centre to praise the head coach's forward planning and salute his bravery in promoting the academy players.

"The one thing I love about Kenny is he already knows what he wants for next year," said the chairman.

"I've never experienced that with any manager here and he'll be supported 100 per cent to achieve what he wants. Kenny and Joe Gallen wanted to start afresh and purge the past and we totally supported that and got behind what they wanted to do."

Morgan, who name-checked Richard Stearman, Dave Edwards, Danny Batth and "captain marvel" Sam Ricketts in his praise, paid tribute to Jackett for promoting the club's academy graduates – and revealed the battles he had with previous managers over fielding home-grown players.

"Fair play to Kenny because he hasn't been afraid to use the players from the academy," he said.

"Previous managers have been reluctant to pick our youth players and if you knew some of the arguments we've had with those who wouldn't give them a chance...but now we have a man who thinks 'if they're good enough, they're old enough. They were brave and brought in players from the academy, all of whom have been a fantastic success."

Morgan held his hands up for the decisions which led to last season's relegation.

"I make no excuses for last year but had we had the points total we had then this season, we'd have finished 18th," he said. "But good comes out of bad and to do what we have done this season and achieved what we have is phenomenal and fantastic for the club."