Dean Saunders: I deserved more time at Wolves

Saunders, who was axed within 48 hours of the club's slide into League One, spoke for the first time over the weekend about the decision.

The 49-year-old replaced Stale Solbakken in January of this year, but he was unable to prevent a second successive relegation after winning only five of his 20 games in charge.

Saunders was always a contentious appointment by owner Steve Morgan after the former Villa striker had been relegated with Doncaster the year before.

But he said: "It wasn't what I thought it was going to be. I obviously have to be careful what I say because you have to sign little bits of paper to get paid. I'm just disappointed I never really got the chance to do what I wanted to do.

"I went to Wrexham when it was in a bit of a mess, it took me two and a half years to turn that club around. I got them to the top of the league in the end, then I went to Doncaster and it took me less time, 18 months.

"It takes time. I went to Wolves and I didn't spend a penny, and I lasted three-and-a-half months or whatever it was, so I'm disappointed about that but I have to just regroup and not let it affect my self-belief and wait for the next job."

Saunders admitted that he was hoping to be given the task of leading Wolves back to the Championship – a job subsequently handed to current head coach Kenny Jackett.

He said that injuries had played a key role in the downfall of his team and his regime.

"We got it going. We won five out of six and I know it sounds like I'm making a load of excuses, but we got a lot of injuries towards the end. Bakary Sako, Dave Edwards, David Davis and Carl Ikeme all broke bones at the wrong time," he added.

"We ended up not getting enough points and as well as that all the teams around us kept on winning - Peterborough, Barnsley and teams like that. I'm disappointed with what happened but I would have liked the chance to put it right."