Tony Daley backing Wolves ‘family’ for promotion

Daley spent 14 years at Molineux – four as a player in the mid-1990s and then 10 as a sports science and fitness expert, working under several different managers before leaving the club this summer.

The 49-year-old spoke to the Express & Star at the launch of Pro Level Performance (PLP) – a football coaching programme in Aston designed to help inspire the next generation of talent.

He was obviously disappointed to leave Wolves this summer – but has nothing but good memories of his time at Molineux.

“I had 10 fantastic years,” Daley said. “There were ups and downs of course but the majority were good.

“I have no qualms about leaving. I was disappointed obviously, Wolves were like a family to me and I enjoyed every minute.

“But life goes on and without me leaving Wolves I wouldn’t be able to do this because I’ve got my heart and soul in it.

“This is a new venture for me, a new chapter and something I’m focusing fully on.”

After Daley joined the club Wolves enjoyed the highs of promotion to the Premier League as well as successive relegations to League One and then promotion back to the Championship again.

“The two promotions were a highlight and getting into the Premier League, which was fantastic,” Daley said.

“Working with the staff there was unbelievable, I worked with some fantastic managers there.

“And the players – I can go to some who are still there now like Danny Batth, what a man he is.

“Jack Price, Dave Edwards, Nouha Dicko and so many more, they’ve been great to work with and worked hard and diligently.

“Working with players like that was an absolutely privilege.”

At PLP, which Daley has co-launched with former Wolves youngster and Blues player Dave Barnett, a big emphasis is being placed on the mental side of the game.

Daley believes Edwards, who recently left Wolves for Reading, is the perfect role model for the youngsters he’ll be coaching.

“Let me tell you something, Dave has an awesome ability,” Daley said. “You talk about flair players like Jordan Graham, he gets the ball, everyone’s on their feet and he’s an awesome talent.

“Dave has different skill attributes – his skill was being in the right place at the right time to score a goal and get up and down that field with his physicality.

“But also his mindset – being able to do that week in, week out, that’s a gift in itself. He’s a true professional on and off the field.”

As for Wolves this season under Nuno Espirito Santo, Daley is impressed with the start they’ve made – and thinks automatic promotion could be on the cards.

“You can see it with the way things are on the pitch – they’re winning games, they’ve bought into the manager’s ideas and you can only speak highly of what they’re doing,” he said.

“The crowds are coming in, they’re playing some great football.

“The expectation level is there given the money they’ve spent and they’re producing the goods.

“They should be where they are, with the players they have. If they can continue that in the second half of the season, which is the really tough part, I can’t see why they couldn’t get automatic or definitely in the play-offs. But why not in the top two? Along with Villa!”

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