New dugouts for Wolves at Molineux

Wolves' new £1million pitch improvements will be accompanied by new dugouts at Molineux.

The dugouts, which will be ready for the friendly against Atletico Bilbao on August 7, have been moved to the track in front of the Billy Wright Stand family enclosure.

But to ensure supporters' views remain unaffected, the dugouts will be sunk with three steps leading down into the area occupied by the management and substitutes.

The new area is also slightly wider and so the dugouts will be extended. The pitch has also been raised slightly to level it off, as it was previously on a slight slope.

Also, the grass area has been straightened as previously it ran at an angle aligned with the track, so there is also slightly less pitchside area compared to last season.

The pitch continues to develop at an impressive rate, with the playing surface being continually assessed by the ground staff.

More than £1million has been invested into new state-of-the-art fibrelastic surfaces at Molineux and the first team pitch at Compton, as well as new undersoil heating, drainage and irrigation.

Head groundsman Wayne Lumbard said: "From the moment we started - the day after the season finished on May 10 - it has been extremely busy.

"It's been a major job, with over 5,000 tonnes of sand and fibrelastic and 2,000 tonnes of gravel going in at Molineux alone and the equivalent coming out.

"At one stage the pile was almost up to the top of the Steve Bull Stand - it's certainly been an 'earth-moving' experience!

"We've had some hot weather to contend with recently and we've had to keep enough water on, but groundstaff are never happy with the weather whatever we have!

"And it's certainly better than some of the deluges of rain we've had in the past. Fingers crossed everything is looking good.

"The first cut has been done at Molineux and we are looking forward to the pitch being in great condition for the friendly with Athletic Bilbao."