Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

"If only they could Sim to the end of the season," suggests a younger observer.

If, like me, your experience of football management computer games dates from a decade when it was necessary to attach a cassette recorder to the machine, there is a translation. "Sim" as in "simulate" - an apparently common practice of allowing the computer to decide the result without the player having to go to the inconvenience of actually playing the game and thereby skipping forward in time.

Playing a game by avoiding the actual game-playing part seemed a slightly less weird concept after last Saturday at Molineux. Afterwards, it was hard to escape the feeling that this, and the four remaining games Wolves are required to fulfil, are matches that they and their supporters could really do without. For anyone who cares for the sport, let alone their club, this is an unnatural and queasy sensation.

Rob Edwards could hardly be expected to vocalise that thought even if it occurred to him, but even his determination to accentuate the positive through this grim season finally seemed under strain.

But it has come to this. Having mostly been remarkably stoic, fans are now expressing their impatience. "Fail to prepare, prepare to fail," read the legend on a flag unfurled in the South Bank at the end, lamenting the mistakes that have brought the club so low. It is now common to hear complaints that while the recent words from the still-new chairman Nathan Shi seem well-judged, it is time for action. Get on with it.

That emotion is entirely reasonable. It is also reasonable to accept Edwards' insistence that the club really have started the overhaul so clearly required this summer. The problem with having to keep your transfer planning quiet is that proving what you're doing is impossible until you can produce the result. Until then, fans must take your word for it at a time when trust is in short supply.

There is no way round that, nor any escaping four more weekends like this. Could we not, say irritated fans – again understandably – "take the handbrake off", at least be a bit less defensive and try to attack even a team as frail as Tottenham?

Perhaps. It would be nice to think they could. But Wolves' struggles owe less to a shortage of tactical ambition than a shortage of quality at Premier League level, apparent since last summer. The sad conclusion from last Saturday was that the sooner all concerned can get on with the future, the better.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Sunderland at 3pm on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Nizaar Kinsella
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Crystal Palace have expressed an interest in signing Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes.

The Brazil international, 25, is expected to leave Molineux Stadium after the club was relegated to the Championship.

Palace have held early contact with Gomes' agency, with Wolves currently asking for offers of around £40m.

Atletico Madrid are also believed to have expressed an interest in Gomes and are widely known to be strong favourites for his signature as they look at add a midfielder to their squad this summer.

They have, however, also shown an interest in Atalanta midfielder Ederson which may open up opportunities for Gomes to move elsewhere, including within the Premier League.

The summer transfer window will open on 15 June 2026 and close on 31 August 2026.

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Emma Milton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have huffed and puffed this season, but they have not come close to blowing the house down.

The old nursery rhyme feels uncomfortably accurate. Too often we have looked like a side lacking conviction, lacking fight, and lacking ideas. This week brought more of the same: another flat performance, another afternoon spent sitting deep and inviting pressure instead of taking control.

So the question now is simple: will Wolves bounce back?

The numbers offer little comfort. Since the Premier League began in 1992, fewer than a quarter of relegated teams have returned at the first attempt. That alone shows how difficult the climb can be. And the danger does not end there. For clubs that fail to come straight back up, the longer-term risk grows; something Wolves know all too well. We have been there and got the t-shirt, with back‑to‑back relegations in 2012 and 2013.

That history is exactly why this season feels so alarming. It does not feel like one bad year. It feels like several seasons of managed decline have finally caught up with us.

Parachute payments soften the financial blow, but they can also mask deeper issues. They ease the immediate pressure, yet they do not guarantee success. If anything, they can increase it — big wage bills, high expectations, and the looming fear of becoming stuck in the Championship for years.

After two seventh‑place finishes not so long ago, this fall feels even harder to accept. The worry is not simply relegation itself. It is the possibility of Wolves becoming another club caught in a cycle that is incredibly difficult to escape.

That is why ambition and investment this summer is so important. If the structure behind the scenes is not right, and if recruitment is anything less than spot‑on, Wolves won't bounce straight back and the threat of another relegation becomes very real. Wolves cannot afford to get this wrong.

Find more from Emma Milton at Always Wolves, external

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Wolves and Tottenham.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Mark: Never looked like scoring. No obvious threat tactics. Busy trying not to lose and giving the opposition the initiative in the process.

Dan: A major rebuild is needed in the summer to have any chance of surviving, never mind coming straight back up. The only gameplan I can see is to keep it 0-0 until 70 minutes and then try to nick it at the end. We are already down, so why not just go for it and let the fans be entertained for a change?

Wol: Another poor performance. First half was terrible but I thought we were better after the break. No threat up front again. A lot of this squad will leave and I don't think Fosun will invest massively in the summer and we will see academy players coming through. I don't think that we will get automatic promotion but will possibly finish in the play-offs with the new format coming in next season. Cheaper season tickets is a bonus for us but was done in the hope it will help fill the ground.

Mel: It was a very poor performance from start to finish. The defence looks very weak and we didn't look like the home team. Midfield effort was there but clearly not good enough to compete at Premier League level. Going forward, why would we persist in pumping high balls to a player much smaller than Spurs’ defenders? Clearly, we have to rebuild the team from back to front, otherwise we are going to struggle in the Championship. Such a disappointing season and the supporters deserve so much more.

Tottenham fans

Dave: Kinsky's save was massive. He was my man of the match. Defence more solid. Midfield combative but still lacked creativity. Solanke and Simons big losses for the rest of our campaign. Overall, high marks for effort and application… there's no doubt we are getting better.

Bert: This hard-fought victory against the bottom side of the Premier League leaves a bitter taste. Nothing in our performance suggests we have any chance of avoiding relegation. Meanwhile, West Ham showed more drive and determination.

Ian: After 70 years of loyal support, nothing surprises me about Spurs. Champions or relegated, it seems it's all the same to some of these players. I think I'm too old to plough my way through another season like this.

Christopher: Finally, a win in the league and well deserved. Sure, it wasn't pretty and Wolves were poor - but the signs are encouraging under De Zerbi. A pattern of play and more forward passing rather than hopeful long balls. The fans were superb as usual before during and afterwards. COYS.

Pundits Martin Keown and Steph Houghton join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• West Ham 2-1 Everton

• Wolves 0-1 Tottenham

• Arsenal 1-0 Newcastle

Wolves boss Rob Edwards said his side didn't look like a relegated team as they ran Tottenham close, telling BBC Sport: "It was a close game, I felt we were the better team in the second half in particular, we were pushing.

"The way the game went it was going to be a moment of magic or something like a set piece second phase and it proved to be the case - it's a difficult one to take.

"One or two people don't quite get things right and we got punished. It was a tough one."

On the players' effort and application after relegation was confirmed on Monday night: "I asked for commitment from the players and effort, coming up against a team fighting for their lives.

"We more than matched their intensity and got done with the goal. We have to dust ourselves down and go again.

"There were a few moments in the second half when things could have gone another way. We got (close) a lot but then we were lacking (where it mattered)."

On finishing the season strongly, despite going down: "We got relegated this week, their motivation is really high, but we didn't look like a relegated team. In the end there was nothing in the game.

"That fight and commitment has to be there, we can't let that drop. We are trying to get some results, today I thought we looked tighter and solid and we were pushing."

Did you know?

• Wolves suffered their 23rd league defeat of the season, equalling their most ever in a 38-game top-flight campaign (also 23 in 2011-12 and 1905-06).

• Through Pedro Lima (19) and Mateus Mane (18), Wolves named two teenagers in a Premier League starting XI for the first time since April 2022 v Newcastle United (Fábio Silva and Luke Cundle).

Listen to Edwards' chat with BBC Radio WM here

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves had time to digest relegation after it was finally confirmed on Monday.

It was inevitable after just three league wins this season but the blow was softened as it came when they were not playing.

And the timing allowed the club and the fans to prepare to face Tottenham with their future certain and spared Wolves the image and pain of being relegated at Molineux.

The performance itself did not offer much insight into next season, as Wolves looked to frustrate and hit Tottenham on the break - although the ball never stuck with Adam Armstrong long enough for then to get forward in numbers.

They still need to finish the season well and three straight defeats, after heavy losses at West Ham and Leeds, threaten to wipe out some of the goodwill which has been generated since the turn of the year.

Boss Rob Edwards needs to bring some momentum into the summer and ensure there are no lingering doubts from the terraces that he is the man to bring Wolves back up.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Spurs' display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Wolves boss Rob Edwards makes five changes from the side who lost at Leeds last weekend.

Jose Sa, Pedro Lima, Matt Doherty, Rodrigo Gomes and Mateus Mane start for the hosts who are already relegated - at Molineux.

Dan Bentley, Jackson Tchatchoua, Angel Gomes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde drop to the bench with Ladislav Krejci out injured.

Wolves XI: Sa, Lima, Doherty, S Bueno, Toti, H Bueno, Andre, J Gomes, R Gomes, Mane, Armstrong.

Subs: Bentley, Tchatchoua, Olagunju, Wolfe, A Gomes, Bellegarde, Edozie, Hwang, Arokodare.

Djed Spence returns for Destiny Udogie in Tottenham's only change.

Spurs are 18th and two points behind West Ham - who host Everton this afternoon - and have not won in the Premier League since December.

James Maddison is on the bench again as he closes in on a return following a serious knee injury he suffered in August.

Tottenham XI: Kinsky, Spence, Danso, Van de Ven, Porro, Bissouma, Gallagher, Bentancur, Xavi, Kolo Muani, Solanke.

Subs: Austin, Dragusin, Palhinha, Richarlison, Maddison, Tel, Gray, Bergvall, Souzs

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Fulham v Aston Villa (12:30)

• Liverpool v Crystal Palace

• West Ham v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Wolves v Tottenham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Arsenal v Newcastle (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

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Tottenham could not beat Wolves at home earlier in the season - they needed a 94th-minute equaliser to avoid defeat in September - but they simply have to beat them this time.

Can Roberto De Zerbi's side win three of their final five games and save themselves from the drop?

Of course they can, but it has to start here. Imagine the psychological damage to the Spurs players and their fans if they don't win this one.

Wolves are officially down now but we have known that will happen for a while.

The pressure is all on Spurs and for them to find a way of winning this game.

If Thomas Frank had stayed in charge and maintained his record of 1.12 points per game, then Spurs would be on 37 points now, in 16th.

Instead, they are in the relegation zone and worrying about how the teams above them are doing as well as trying to pick up points themselves.

From watching them, there is nothing that suggests Tottenham will win this time after failing to win any of their previous 15 league games.

Similarly, they have not kept a clean sheet for 14 league games, so why would they manage one now?

But I am going to go against the grain here. Spurs absolutely must win this game, so I am going to say they will - and also that Wolves won't score.

I know that is a ridiculous prediction, and I don't even really believe it will happen myself, but then nothing about Spurs' season makes sense when you study it.

Sutton's prediction: 0-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves have confirmed that all season-ticket holders will receive "a minimum 25% reduction" in their packages ahead of the 2026-27 campaign, which will see the club drop down to the Championship after an eight-year stint in the Premier League.

There will be greater reductions available across concession categories. For example, younger supporters could see their season ticket prices fall "by as much as 53%" compared to this campaign.

In addition, the under-21 concessionary category has been increased to under-23, while the under-17 band has been upped to under-18.

Fixed prices have also been introduced for younger supporters, with under-18s paying a £175 flat-rate across all four stands and under-14s paying just £75.

The football club committed to season ticket reductions last month, as well as a review of its general admission ticket pricing.

Wolves' interim executive chairman Nathan Shi confirmed the wholesale changes to the club's pricing structure in a club statement, external.

"These changes reflect a clear reset in how we approach ticketing at Wolves, with a focus on accessibility and long-term growth" he said.

"We want to ensure more supporters, especially young fans and families, can experience Molineux and feel part of the club.

"A full and vibrant Molineux remains crucial to our goals - one we believe can drive the team to a successful 2026-27 season."

The decision confirms the club's mission to improve accessibility, encourage long-term growth and build their next generation of supporters.

Meanwhile, senior supporters will also continue to benefit from the 65+ concessionary category, despite changes to the national retirement age.

The club believes the move "represents a reset in approach, aimed at strengthening the connection between the club and its supporters for the long term".

How do you feel about the announcement? Will you be renewing your season ticket for the Championship?

Let us know your thoughts here

Marissa Thomas
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Rob Edwards has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Tottenham at Molineux (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Edwards provided an update on goalkeeper Jose Sa, who picked up an injury before the Leeds game: "He trained today [Friday] so we'll give him as much time as possible but he felt comfortable today so that's pleasing."

• He added Matt Doherty trained all week so he is available, but Ladislav Krejci "will be struggling".

• On relegation being confirmed: "Tough to take but we knew where we were. We were marooned at the bottom of the league. We don't like it. It wasn't easy, I don't think it was ever going to be. There has been mistakes made here for a number of years and the trend that the club has been on for a while has been leading up to this so there is a lot for us to learn.

• He continued: "If you make mistakes, you can be punished and we have seen that with a number of clubs. We have been able to make some improvements and we want to take positive momentum into the new season so we want to do that [from] tomorrow."

• When asked how he personally processed relegation, Edwards said: "We acknowledged it and I felt I needed to show some strong leadership with the staff and the players and what we want to do moving forward. We know this has been a challenging season but it's about what we do next. It's been difficult for the supporters and I know it is challenging. Let's react in the right way. Nobody would want us to feel sorry for ourselves. We have to respond in a professional way and do a good job."

• On recruitment for next season: "Players [are the ones who] go over the line and do it so it is important that we get that bit right. The process was started in January and a lot of hard work has gone on to make sure we are in a good position in the summer. We want to act as early as possible to give us the best chance to work with the group."

• Edwards spoke about an altercation between team-mates Tolu Arokodare and Mateus Mane: "That was a couple of weeks ago. Not uncommon. We dealt with it and we have moved on from it. There is a lot of passion and sometimes things can get physical. We have a group that care. They are a tight group and sometimes things can spill over. I've got no problem with any of the individuals."

• On facing Tottenham: "Roberto [de Zerbi] is in for a reason, because they have had some difficulties as well. Momentum is hard to change. It's a really good game and it's an interesting game so it shouldn't be one that is difficult for us to respond. I hope we can show the best side of us and I know it will be a difficult game. We want to try and finish as strongly as possible. We haven't done that as a football club so that is the message we are driving. We have got to guarantee our performance levels are high."

Listen to full match commentary of Wolves v Tottenham on BBC Radio 5 Live at 15:00 BST on Saturday

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

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Wolves, Bournemouth and Sunderland are among the clubs interested in signing 25-year-old Queens Park Rangers and Jamaica striker Rumarn Burrell. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wake us when it's over.

Alas, while the mathematical certainty of relegation still hurt Wolves fans, there is still another month of this to endure.

"Work has been underway since my arrival in December," wrote the still-new executive chairman Nathan Shi in a Monday night statement on the club's website. He continued: "To ensure we are ready to respond with clarity and conviction… We know what is required and will approach the months ahead with purpose."

Nathan Shi's communications since being appointed to replace his namesake Jeff Shi have been received positively, at least as positively as can be at a time when there is nothing that can usefully be said to assuage the upset that fans feel. Those supporters formed their judgements of the players some time ago. Some have already made judgements on Rob Edwards. The time when they will judge Nathan Shi's work is about to begin.

The first part of this period will be the worst. Fairly or not, Shi is for the moment the avatar of Fosun, the club's owners. However unjust it may be on a personal level, as their representative on the ground he will have to face the ire of the fans. He is showing a welcome willingness to listen to their concerns, attending several meetings with supporter groups and committing to appearing at a larger fans' forum, to be broadcast by BBC Radio WM, next month.

Good communication is valuable, but only as an addition to getting major decisions right, not a substitute. Words will be the cheapest commodity around Wolverhampton in the next few months. The financial drop between the first and second tier is more pronounced now than when Wolves were last relegated from the Premier League in 2012, and Wolves supporters do not need to look at Leicester as a frightening case study of what can happen if they get the major decisions wrong now. The Championship is even more capricious than the Premier League, but rewards clubs with strong plans and determination to stick to them, as Coventry have demonstrated. It can be pitiless on those that do not.

"We know this season has tested your loyalty and patience," said Shi. The good news is that the loyalty will stay. Attendances may fall, but Wolves fans will remain Wolves fans, available to be pulled back. As Shi will hear on Saturday when Wolves play at home for the first time in 50 days, it is the patience that has limits.

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Tottenham at 3pm on Saturday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM and BBC Sounds]

And tune into The West Midlands Football Phone-In from 18:00 on weeknights

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Getty Images

Tottenham are still yet to register a Premier League win in 2026 and, with their survival hopes in the balance, will be desperate to end that particular statistic on Saturday when they visit already relegated Wolves.

However, Spurs' recent record against the West Midlands club is not the best - they have failed to win any of their past six attempts and you have to go back to August 2022 for Spurs' most recent victory in the fixture. Harry Kane netted the winner in a 1-0 success at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

There have been a couple of painful experiences for Spurs at Molineux during that winless run - most notably in November 2023, when Wolves scored twice in stoppage time to secure a 2-1 victory.

Spurs lost 4-2 at the same venue last April, at a time when their main focus was on what would become a successful Europa League campaign.

That victory formed part of a six-match winning run in the Premier League for Wolves, a sequence of results which secured an eighth successive season in the top flight. Just over 12 months on, relegation to the Championship is now a reality.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves executive chairman Nathan Shi vowed the club knows how to recover after relegation from the Premier League was confirmed.

The club's eight-year stay in the top flight ended with five games remaining this season after West Ham earned a point at Crystal Palace on Monday.

Wolves have won just three times in the Premier League this season and are bottom with just 17 points from 33 games.

Shi said: "We are clear on what needs to improve and our focus is now on strengthening the club, building momentum and creating a team our supporters can believe in. We know what is required and will approach the months ahead with purpose.

"We know this season has tested your loyalty and patience. Your backing, home and away, has not been taken for granted. You deserve better and giving you a club you can genuinely be proud of is what drives everything we do from this point forward.

"Confirmation of our relegation is a difficult moment for everyone connected to Wolves.

"While this is a deeply disappointing outcome, work has been under way since my arrival in December to ensure we are ready to respond with clarity and conviction."