Gray talks Wolves to our man

Andy Gray has always been a go-getter.

Whether it was scoring goals, being petulant with referees or analysing tactics in his role as summariser for Sky, Gray has always come across as a man in a hurry to achieve.

But, where Wolves are concerned, the former striker is desperate to lose a proud record – because he believes it shows how much the club have under-achieved over the last three decades.

This time, Gray reckons promotion back to the Premier League will be followed up by a willingness to compete.

It's hardly surprising then that when talking about Wolves, you can't ignore the frustration tinging Gray's sharp-as-a-knive opinions on a club he believes has wallowed in the shadows for far too long.

So long, in fact, for him to want to rid himself of a milestone going back 29 years.

He said: "I was playing golf in Sutton Coldfield last week and got chatting to a lad and his dad.

"It turned out they were Wolves fans and I was reminded about scoring the winner in the League Cup final in 1980.

"I said to them I thought that was the last time Wolves won a major trophy – and that was before the lad was born.

"So I think it's about time someone else had the honour of getting them a winner at Wembley."

Mention Wolves returning to the Premier League, and the old fire and passion that made him such a feared striker and now engaging summariser is almost overwhelming.

He was coveted to, becoming Britain's most costliest footballer when he moved from Villa to Wolves for £1,469,000 in September 1979.

He said: "I couldn't be more pleased to see Wolves promoted back to the Premier League. I'm always pleased to see them in the top league. I was delighted to see them last time and I'm delighted to see them there again.

"You don't often get one-club cities, but Wolves is certainly that. You don't tend to see any rivals in Wolverhampton because everyone supports Wolves.

"The stadium is good too. I love seeing the statue of Billy Wright, I think it's fabulous, I really do.

"Although the ground has changed a lot since my time there and I had a lot of tough times, I've also got a lot of good memories from my time at Wolves.

"There were some great lads and fantastic footballers who I really enjoyed playing with such as John Richards, Kenny Hibbitt, Willie Carr, Geoff Palmer and Derek Parkin."

Back then, Wolves were an established top flight club, something they have sadly never been since as immediate relegations in 1984 – the season Gray left for Everton – and 2004 amplified.

There is one common denominator from two of the blacker marks in Wolves' history: A clear lack of investment.

This time, under the careful stewardship of owner-chairman Steve Morgan, chief executive Jez Moxey and manager Mick McCarthy, Wolves are at least going to compete.

No-one is expecting them to try to match the mind-boggling sums sloshing around among the top four.

But the board look set to give McCarthy a fighting chance to supplement the young and hungry brigade who have got Wolves promoted – a step Gray fully endorses.

He said; "They have some good players and, if he can add to that in the summer, I'm very hopeful they could compete.

"It would be good to see them establish themselves in this league for four or five years this time.

"I'm really confident this time that Wolves can do it."

Clever investment rather than rash spending is the key to survival, according to Gray.

He said: "Everyone goes on about huge investment but it requires investment – not necessarily huge.

"Mick, being the cute guy he is in the transfer market, I reckon can get a few experienced players on Bosmans or in the last year of their contracts.

"That's all part of managing in the Premier League and if you can get a few of those then you don't need to spend £15m-£20m. If you have a top staff, which Mick has, then you can do that.

"Mick will look at where he needs to strengthen and which players he needs, but he'll also look at those who have been good to him."

Gray, who was also a promotion winner with Wolves in 1983 that sent them back to the top flight, believes McCarthy will feel he has unfinished business in the Premier League.

He has previously endured an ill-fated spell there with Sunderland, who were relegated after just one season in 2004-05 after the manager was given just £6million to spend on transfer fees, wages and agents' fee

Gray also reckons McCarthy will have learned lessons from three years ago and will be better prepared.

The pundit said: "Mick didn't have a very good record the last time he was there and he'd be the first to admit that.

"But hopefully this is the reward for the board for backing him, because there would have been a lot of boards that wouldn't have backed him this time a year ago and maybe changed managers.

"So this was a big season and I think everyone knew that, including Mick, so it's a reward for not getting itchy fingers and thinking things through right.

"Mick is hugely experienced and has managed big clubs so I think he will know what he needs and will have learned from last time."

So what can Wolves expect among the elite?

Gray said: "It's tough. West Brom swept aside everything in the Championship last season yet look how they have struggled, so that tells you what's required.

"Stoke and Hull have gone about it in a different way and we all know how Stoke play but they maximise their strengths and they look like they're going to stay up.

"You need different tools – better players, a bigger squad and a little bit of luck."

Gray also believes a good start is vital to Wolves' chances to give them a platform and the confidence to achieve results.

He said: "Let's hope they can do that and then get off to a flyer which will give them momentum.

The Sky star also backed chief executive Jez Moxey's vow to start the process of strengthening the squad today by urging McCarthy to make the most of their early promotion by acting now to sign players.

Gray added: "If he can do it now all the better because now is the time to invest."