What happened to Mark Atkins?

But Causeway Lane is the first rung on the managerial ladder for experienced former pro Mark Atkins.

One side of the ground is in ruins after it was knocked down, only for plans to build a replacement to be refused by the council.

But today the Gladiators host their biggest game in nearly nine years, when Blue Square Premier establishment in Kidderminster Harriers make the trip from Worcestershire in the FA Trophy.

Before the first round tie, Atkins will give his team talk while his players change in the cricket pavilion across the way.

That's life in the Unibond League and it's a far cry from coming to Molineux in 1995 as a £1million player, months after pipping Manchester United to the Premier League title with Blackburn.

He said: "We are 10 games unbeaten at the moment after flirting with relegation last season, so I have had it a lot worse!

"I came here last November, I had been a caretaker at Shrewsbury and Doncaster so I had a bit of a taste for it and wanted more."

Atkins, at the height of his playing powers, came to Wolves in the September after Blackburn's historic title win of 1994/95 – still the only club outside of the 'big four' to win the Premier League.

The midfielder played 34 times that season, before becoming the latest six-figure buy to come to Molineux under the managerial reign of Graham Taylor.

He said: "I had been at Blackburn for seven years and wanted a three year contract to take me to 10 – the club weren't prepared to do that.

"I was out of contract and Graham had tried to buy me for Wolves all through that title-winning season.

"They were the big spenders of what is now the Championship and were a club looking to go places."

Atkins had only been at the club for two months when Taylor resigned, Mark McGhee taking over after walking out on Leicester.

The club finished just two places above the drop zone that season, but rebounded to finish third and secure a play-off place in 1996/97.

It all came down to the second leg at Molineux with Crystal Palace 3-1 up from the first leg and, although Atkins scored in a 2-1 win, it was a goal too far.

He said: "That was the best atmosphere I have ever played in that night, and I have been to Wembley three times."

Wolves never made it back to the play-offs until Dave Jones finally led them to the top flight in 2003, with Atkins released aged 30 in 1999 having made 126 appearances for the club.

But the now 41-year-old will never forget his time in Wolverhampton, living in Tettenhall after moving to the club, and even meeting his future wife Heidi.

He said: "It's a fantastic club, I liked the town and the people. And, through my other half and her family, I always know what is going on at Molineux!

"Blackburn was always my club, but Wolves is a very close second."