Wolves alumni back old boss Dave Jones

The quartet took Wolves into the re-branded top flight for the first time in 18 years through the 2003 Championship play-offs, writes Craig Birch.

Goalkeeper Matt Murray, full-back Lee Naylor and captain Paul Butler now believe the only way is up for the League Two strugglers.

They were reunited at the Cleveland Arms Sports Bar, on Stowheath Lane in Wolverhampton, for the 'Class of 2003' event.

A three-figure crowd attended Thursday night's show, with Jones a constant theme in on-stage discussions with host Nigel Pearson.

The 60-year-old was unveiled as Hartlepool's new chief last Thursday, after three years out of the game since he was sacked by Sheffield Wednesday.

Jones remains the first manager to take Wolves into the re-branded top flight and also achieved promotions with Stockport County and at Wednesday.

He's also bossed at Premier League level with Southampton and taken Cardiff City to an FA Cup final, now taking charge of a team in the bottom-tier of English football for the first time.

Jones has 825 first-team games under his belt from the touchline and will be determined to join the '1,000 club' with Hartlepool, where he officially begins his reign on Monday.

Butler was his captain at Wolves, where he was at the helm from January 2001 to November 2004, and the two remain in touch.

The former defender, 44, is a part of Manchester City's recruitment network in the North-West and will be on the look-out for talent that might better serve Jones' plan of action.

Butler said: "Me and the gaffer talked when I was on the way here, I still call him that and that's how he comes up on my phone, along with my old Sunderland manager Peter Reid.

"I worked with him in his last job at Sheffield Wednesday, I was helping him with recruitment there, after I'd spent two years scouting for Oldham with Paul Dickov.

"I got him Michail Antonio for Wednesday from Reading, he was one of mine that I brought in there and has gone on to have a good career with West Ham.

"I'll do all I can for him now he's back in the game, in terms of recommending players and watching them when I can. I've spoke to him about it, we've identified what he's looking for.

"I know he had offers soon after he left Wednesday and he kept turning them down, because he wanted a break. Dave's a workaholic and he needed that rest.

"He's a wise man and he's got the right project for him at Hartlepool now. I'd watch out for them over the next year and a half, because I think he could take them places."

Jones will be joined by assistant Kevin Cooper, who played under him at Molineux, and former Wolves fitness coach Alex Armstrong at Victoria Park.

Murray's competitive first-team bow came under Jones' stewardship at Wolves in August 2002 and that play-off glory came in the same season.

Now retired and a football commentator, the 35-year-old has another reason for wanting his old gaffer to do well, for the sake of his Sky Sports colleague and Hartlepool president Jeff Stelling!

Murray said: "Dave gave me some stick and we didn't always see eye-to-eye, but he's also the person who gave me my debut. I have a lot of time for him.

"It's great to see him back in the game and I don't know why it has taken so long, but I'm sure he'll do well at Hartlepool.

"In my opinion, he's a good man manager and he's handled big egos and characters along with the young lads. He achieved things at Wolves, because he had a blend of youth and experience.

"This is a different challenge, but he is a motivator and he'll find the players that fit his system. He's already got people around him that we knew from Wolves.

"Alex and Coops know he works and he'll pick that team on a Saturday with everyone pulling together. My mate Jeff will be very happy if he can get them going!"

Naylor was another who had an up-and-down relationship with Jones, but he also took him along to Cardiff in 2010.

The Bloxwich-born defender, who now lives in Birmingham, officially called time from playing last summer at the age of 35 and is now working as a scout for his former agent, Dave Baldwin.

Naylor said: "Dave can build a team, it's one thing he can do, and that's what happened at Wolves. One of his qualities is getting a great mix of players together.

"He's got our old fitness coach there with him, who has been there and done it. I've been with Coops at Wolves and Cardiff, where he had a coaching role when I got there.

"He's kept the people around him that he can trust and I'm sure he'll do a good job, as long as he's allowed to bring in the players he wants."