Wolves boss Nuno backing concussion substitute trials
Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo is ‘totally supportive’ of the Premier League’s plans to begin permanent concussion substitution trials from January.
Concussion protocols have been in the spotlight since the clash of heads between Wolves striker Raul Jimenez and Arsenal’s David Luiz last month.
The incident left Jimenez with a fractured skull which required surgery while Luiz initially carried on before being taken off at half-time.
Now, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) have brought in a new rule which means permanent substitutions can be made if a player suffers a head injury, even if all replacements have already been used.
To avoid potential abuse of the rule, opposition teams will also be able to make a change at the same time.
And Nuno – while Jimenez continues to make good progress after his operation and return home from hospital a couple of weeks ago – said on the plans: “It makes a lot of sense.
“I think everybody involved the game has already understood when something so traumatic and serious happens, the right protocol must be followed. Allowing a player to be substituted makes total sense.
“I’m totally supportive of the concussion substitutions, there’s no doubt about it.”
Meanwhile, Wolves have published their latest loan agreement with investment bank Macquarie Group – designed to help with cash flow in the coming years.
The club originally secured a £50million loan with the Australian firm in September of last year, to aid with running costs while awaiting Premier League television payments.
And now fresh documents have been filed at Companies House by the club’s holding company Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club (1986).
The terms of the arrangement are kept confidential on the paperwork, but are believed to have been altered slightly from previous years.
It is understood the move has been done to help with cash flow and bring funds into the club when needed, as opposed to when they would traditionally arrive in the form of TV payments, season tickets and transfer windows.
The lending facility previously expired in August 2023 but has now been extended until August 2024.
