Wolves blog: Footballing Reasons Chapter II

Just over a year ago to the day, Wolves sold double Player of the Year award winner Richard Stearman to Fulham for a believed fee of around £2m. After one full season at the southwest London club, he has returned on a season-long loan.

The transfer becomes the fourth between Wolves and Fulham in a year in what appears to be an inter-club exchange program – beginning with Stearman's sale to Fulham last September, before this summer's movements of McDonald to Fulham, with Lonergan and Stearman moving the opposite way.

Social media has thrown up a mixed response to Stearman's return. Those critical of re-signing him argue that it is a backwards step, or that you should never return to past players.

Granted, the last player Wolves re-signed was not very successful – Leon Clarke.

But it was the act of selling Stearman that was a step back – re-signing him is simply filling a gap that was left when he departed. He was only ever adequately replaced on a fleetingly temporary basis by Mike Williamson in a short-lived emergency loan in November 2015.

82 per cent of Express & Star poll voters were in agreement that Stearman should not be sold a year ago. It seemed a strange deal at the time, as Stearman was not pushing for a move away from Molineux, given his passion and commitment to the club.

Wolves publically stated that his departure was due to 'footballing reasons', that his place would soon be usurped by the likes of Iorfa, Hause and Ebanks-Landell.

In the club's hindsight (and many fans' foresight), this was a poor move from whoever organised the transfer – be it Morgan, Moxey, Thelwell or Jackett. Wolves struggled without him and have been on the lookout for a solid centre back ever since, up until his return.

During Jackett's first two seasons in charge of Wolves, Stearman formed a solid central defensive pairing with Danny Batth which saw Wolves win League One at a canter before falling just short of the playoffs on goal difference in the following Championship season.

He improved steadily over the years he spent at Molineux, especially after being employed as a centre back – McCarthy had often used Stearman as a right back.

Having spent seven seasons at the club, he returns as one of the more experienced Molineux men – experienced in terms of knowledge of the club itself and the league. His bravery and general attitude was always great to witness and he joins a stronger defence than when he left, with the likes of Doherty having massively improved.

He has a great relationship with the majority of Wolves supporters, and is synonymous with recent successes such as the 2008/09 Championship and 2014/15 League One titles. His reputation was not really marred by the 2012/13 Championship relegation season, as he was out on loan to Ipswich for the majority.

Stearman re-joins Wolves at the most exciting time in the club's recent history, and will offer experience and passion to the team – with the influx of newcomers to the league, these attributes will be vital within the blend of the team.

Fittingly, his old #5 shirt is unoccupied, which he will presumably pick up – it will feel like he has never been away.