Calls for Wolves to keep city-centre club shop open

The Championship side last week revealed that the Dudley Street superstore lease would not be renewed.

The club said it would instead 'increase the staffing levels in the retail department’s online operation and the Molineux Megastore.'

Bushbury North Councillor Dan Warren, said: " It's sad news that the Wolves are going to close their city centre store.

"I have many happy memories of buying my Wolves shirts there over the years and continue to use the store to buy match day tickets.

"I can understand that the leases on some of the units in the city centre are too expensive and long but I feel the club should try and retain a presence in the city centre and be part of all the good regeneration work going on.

"The club should be mindful of elderly fans who won't necessarily want to walk down to the Molineux.

"Also I hope that club invest more ticket office staff as I know at lot of fans including myself buy tickets from the city centre shop."

In a statement published online last the week, the club announced the decision was made after a board meeting with a "general decline of High Street shopping" as they plan to focus on their online presence instead.

The statement continued: "The purchase of match tickets can still be done via the usual methods, online and at the club's main Molineux ticket office.

"To service fans who have traditionally bought their tickets from the city centre store location, other viable solutions are being considered and will be communicated in due course.

"All staff based at the Dudley Street store have been informed of the situation, and every effort is being taken to ensure they are all given fresh opportunities within Wolves’ retail department, either in the Molineux Megastore or with the online operation.

"In recent years, more and more of the club’s retail sales have taken place online, in keeping with modern trends and the general decline of High Street shopping, which has seen many other retailers recently reviewing their High Street presence in recent years.

"With the lease on the shop in Dudley Street due to expire at the end of June, and with the only option available to renew on a ten year basis, amid such uncertainty within the retail sector, it has been decided to take this course of action.

"Wolves will instead focus entirely on the Molineux Megastore – the busier of the two stories – in terms of a retail presence, and commit to ensuring that supporters using the Megastore or purchasing online receive the best possible service, with the club’s new website due for launch during June, 2017.

"It should however be stressed that this doesn’t preclude the club exploring alternative retail options in the future."