Wolverhampton Council leader: Sky's the limit for Wolves and the city

Wolves resurgence has been great for the fans – but it has also helped to put the city back on the map.

So says Councillor Roger Lawrence, a Wolves supporter of more than four decades who believes the club's return to the big time can have a host of wider benefits for Wolverhampton.

The Wolverhampton Council leader said the club's progress off the pitch since Fosun took over – and on it under the guidance of Nuno Espírito Santo – has brought a feelgood factor back to the city.

But the advantages go far beyond the football pitch and the Molineux boardroom, and as far as Mr Lawrence is concerned the whole city can reap the rewards.

"There are a lot of positive things happening in Wolverhampton in terms of developments and infrastructure, and Wolves have undoubtedly played a role in that," he said.

The positive impact that a successful football team can have on its local area is well documented.

A study in Swansea identified that top flight football can benefit a place to the tune of £50 million a year and more than 200 jobs, while Leicester City's Premier League win is thought to have helped to pump close to £1 billion into the local economy.

And for a city such a Wolverhampton, which is undergoing its biggest period of structural change in decades, the possibilities are endless.

"There are millions of pounds in direct benefits simply by having a Premier League club in the city," said Mr Lawrence, a season ticket holder in the Stan Cullis who started going to Molineux when he moved to Wolverhampton in 1976.

"Then you have the feelgood factor which can increase productivity. It also gives us a real platform to promote inclusion and challenge racism.

"We have high profile players from all around the world and from different backgrounds in this Wolves team. That really helps to promote equality across the city."

Mr Lawrence, who is stepping down as council leader next month, says that by sustaining their place in the Premier League Wolves can boost the city's profile across the world.

This not only puts the city firmly on the map, he says, but it also helps to attract the long term investment the city needs to get a whole host of ambitious projects off the ground.

"The city is changing rapidly," Mr Lawrence said. "A lot of developments that have been planned for years are either up and running or close to that stage.

"To make these things happen we need money to come into the city, but investors will only come in if there are opportunities there for them to invest in.

"As a council we are working hard to make sure there are industrial sites available, land for homes and office space.

"Investors want a site they can move onto straight away. If it is not available they will go somewhere else.

"It's a major challenge, but we are doing all we can to make sure our competitive position is strong."

The developments in progress include the revamp of the railway station and the Metro extension, the various stages of the Interchange project and Bilston Urban Village.

Work is due to start on the Westside project later this year, while the city council recently unveiled ambitious plans for the Brewers Yard scheme, which will see more than 1,000 new homes, along with shops and restaurants near the Springfield Brewery site.

And Molineux is also in line for development, with the city council and Wolves in continued discussions about expanding the famous old stadium.

Mr Lawrence said: "There's still a lot of work to be done as far as the stadium is concerned. It's a major project and further work needs to be done on how we manage capacity during the season."

He admits he has seen some "bloody difficult" times over the years as a Wolves fan, with the club plummeting down through the divisions before eventually returning to the top flight under the ownership of Sir Jack Hayward.

Then came more frustration, with a three year spell in the Premier League followed by six years in the wilderness, before Nuno came along and everything changed.

"They are a special side playing really exciting football," Mr Lawrence said of the current Wolves team.

"We're playing Manchester United... more than matching them on the pitch and coming away with the win. It's incredible to see.

"We've got a young squad and it needs more depth, but it's great to see that the club is also focused on bringing through young players such as Morgan Gibbs-White and giving them chances."

Despite his love for past Molineux heroes including Bully, Andy Mutch, John Richards and Andy Thompson, Mr Lawrence holds the current squad close to his heart – particularly the back line.

"Our defence has been outstanding," he said. "Coady, Boly, Doherty and Ryan Bennett... we've got some incredible attacking players but having such a strong defence has been key to the team's success.

"I'm excited to see how this team progresses."

For Wolves – and the city of Wolverhampton – the sky is the limit.