MK Dons Pete Winkelman supremo wants Wolves in Championship too
Colourful MK Dons owner Pete Winkelman steps into the Molineux boardroom for the first time tomorrow dreaming of a promotion double.
Multi-millionaire Winkelman, who hails from Penn, was a diehard Wolves fan as a boy and is pinning his hopes on MK Dons joining Kenny Jackett's side in the promotion shake-up.
The two teams meet at Molineux tomorrow at a time when the ambitious Dons have suffered a stop-start campaign so far which sees them languishing in mid-table, while Wolves are joint top.
Winkelman believes there is time to pull their season around and said: "I'm really disappointed to be playing Wolves in League One – it's my dream to play them in the Premier League or the Championship at least as a given.
"Having said that, it's doing Wolves really good and they're getting themselves back together and I think they will win the league.
"If we can't win it then I want Wolves to win it."
Winkelman, who attended St Chad's school in Fallings Park, was a huge Wolves fan growing up in Penn in the 1960s and 70s and names Peter Knowles, Derek Dougan and Dave Wagstaffe as his "Holy Trinity".
But his old loyalties can't overcome his current ones as he makes an emotional trip back to his home town tomorrow.
Before the game he will be presented with framed pictures of him and his all-conquering St Chad's teams from the early 70s by classmates he hasn't seen for 40 years.
"I want to win – MK Dons are my team but Wolves are my second favourite team," he said.
"We've been on a terrible run and Wolves have had a fantastic start to the season so it's going to be a really hard game."
Winkelman's confidence in Wolves is partly fuelled by the appointment of Kenny Jackett as head coach, who he believes has had a positive but calming influence.
"Everyone wants to play Wolves this season in this division and everyone wants to go to Molineux and put on a show," he said.
"Wolves can't take anything for granted but they will be fine.
"In Kenny Jackett they have appointed a good manager.
"Look at Sheffield United and Bristol City and how they have struggled and the likes of Norwich and Leeds in the recent past. It's not an easy division to get out of but Kenny has done very well."
