Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Si, senor? They were singing Raul Jimenez's song at Molineux on Sunday, before the striker, still revered by Wolves fans three years after his departure, even took the field.

The idea has been afloat for a while that, with his Fulham contract up, he might be tempted back for a farewell tour of the Championship. As you may have read in Wolves fan Emma Milton's piece on this page yesterday, there are more than a few Wolves fans who would like to take nostalgia-ball a good deal further than that.

A Jimenez return is an appealing idea, even if we assume that, at a late stage of his career, he would have to be used in rotation. The attraction of signing him is not limited to what he would do on the field, of course.

Imagine what Mateus Mane might learn from him. A squad that has been found painfully short of leaders would immediately have a totemic figure, and the world has already heard how the supporters would be lifted by the idea. Raul no doubt heard that too, and in a brief comment afterwards said nothing to play down the notion of a return.

He is bound to have other offers, some of them probably backed by more money than Championship Wolves might be able to pay, but sentimental feelings could compensate. Who knows, and there will be ranges of opinions, but it's an idea to generate a bit of excitement.

Yes, there's the World Cup to complicate further the usual tangled process of getting deals done, but at the forum last week Nathan Shi seemed clear about the importance of trying not to leave deals until the last days of the window.

Getting things moving might be more valuable than waiting for the best possible numbers this summer, not least to start repairing trust with sceptical fans.

On the final day of the season against Burnley, it brings a strange moment of opportunity, to swap the wooden spoon for an extra place payment, if Wolves can win and finally climb off the bottom. It would be a weird thing to celebrate. But an extra £2.7m quid could come in handy, wouldn't you say, senor?

Listen to full commentary of Burnley v Wolves at 16:00 BST on Sunday on BBC Radio WM [DAB Black Country]

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

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Emma Milton
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

There are some players who leave a football club. Then there are others who leave behind something far bigger than goals, tackles or clean sheets.

Roman Saiss and Raul Jimenez fall firmly into the second camp.

When the pair returned to Molineux Stadium, the reception said it all. Loud, warm and full of affection, it was the kind of welcome only earned through hard work, graft and a genuine love of Wolverhampton Wanderers. That is why they are still so loved, and why their names still carry weight on the terraces.

It also proves a simple truth. If you leave a club the right way, you can become iconic.

Of course, football fans are never short of an opinion. For every supporter shouting "bring him back", there is another warning that returning is a risky business. Could it ruin the legacy? Is Raul too old? Is he now at that point in his career when a comeback feels more romantic than realistic?

That view is understandable. On the surface, the idea can seem a little whimsical, maybe even nostalgic. But football is rarely that simple. Put Raul Jimenez in the Championship with the right players around him, and there is every chance he would rip it up.

That is what makes the debate so tempting. If there are early talks, as Raul has hinted, then Wolves fans will allow themselves to dream a little.

Why stop at Raul and Saiss anyway? Get Adama Traore back on the wing, Joao Moutinho pulling the strings, Ruben Neves dictating everything from 30 yards - and Nuno Espirito Santo back in the dugout while we are at it.

It would be less a transfer window and more a reunion tour.

Would I have Raul back? Absolutely, without question.

Find more from Emma Milton at Always Wolves, external

We asked for your thoughts after Sunday's Premier League game between Wolves and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Wolves fans

Ray: Disastrous. I don't think they have a clue how difficult the Championship is. The so-called best players could not hack it in the Premier League so we will sell them and buy real quality to play in the Championship. Dream on, and the manager is a loser.

Martin: Well we managed 45 minutes before conceding so it must be an improvement.

Chris: Awful, again! If Mr Edwards can't design and motivate the team that will most likely form the nucleus of next season's offering, how do we think the results will be any different in the Championship? We need to find a competent and capable manager now instead of waiting until the end of next season when we go down again! Might be pessimistic but certainly highly probable.

Wol: We played with some spirit but the difference of quality on the pitch between the two teams was vast. Fulham were stringing passes together when attacking but we struggled. Playing long balls to Armstrong is not going to get us goals. A lot of these players will leave in the next few weeks and the rebuild has got to be spot on as if it isn't, then we will have a tough season and will finish mid-table at most. It will take two or three seasons to get us back where we want to be, but we must stick together and hope that the transfer market is a success.

Fulham fans

Robbie: All huff and no puff in the final third of the pitch has ultimately been our arch nemesis most of the season and we haven't beaten any team convincingly all season, which was the same today. Calvin Bassey was again our standout player which says everything about our performances when a defender is making all the headlines!

David: One day the top management will go and get a first-class striker instead of waiting until the end of the transfer window to see what's left over and going cheap. Marco must be pulling his hair out. Again, the end of the season and we're slowly slipping down the table. Likewise, they let good players and managers leave over pay rather than giving them their asking price or a deal to keep them at the club.

Louis: Utterly embarrassing. Europe officially over. This happens every single season. The only goal that we can score is from a penalty - that sums up Fulham. Zero drive at all. Clumsy at the back. Zero midfield. Our striker had one shot, off target, of course.

Maurice: Silva's poor team selection again. He has to play King, and Bobb rather than the lacklustre Smith-Rowe, and Wilson. Time for Silva to move on and for fresh energy brought in for next season. But thanks for the last five years, you have been super.

Pundits Dion Dublin and Mark Schwarzer join host Gabby Logan to bring you the action and talking points from Friday's and Sunday's Premier League fixtures.

Watch on BBC iPlayer here

And listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Leeds 1-0 Burnley

• Brentford 2-2 Crystal Palace

• Newcastle 3-1 West Ham

Wolves manager Rob Edwards has been speaking to Sky Sports following the draw: "It was a good response from last week and a better start to the game. We had a foot in it and it was nice to get the first goal. The last 10 to 15 minutes of the first half, we maybe stepped back because we were winning the game, which we don't want to do, so we invited a bit too much pressure which led to the penalty.

"But I thought we stepped forward really well again in the second half. We attacked the game well, we were aggressive, we had a lot of high regains and we had chances we weren't able to capitalise on."

On whether he wants Matheus Mane to be a part of Wolves' future: "Yep. He will want to be here because this is the right place for him at the moment. We are confident we will be working with him next season.

"He certainly made a difference with the goal and the penalty today. Overall, I thought his performance was really good. He showed lots of endeavour and had a brilliant moment of quality. He is intelligent and the exciting thing is there's a lot more to come from him. He has been a big plus for us this year in a really challenging period."

On Hwang Hee-chan: "He has worked incredibly hard, has been at the club a long time and has given his all. No one can question what he gives. There was a bit of frustration, but it was always going to be an emotionally charged day.

"No one is happy with the situation but, overall, it was quite a good day. The fans were behind the lads, we showed a better response and we took a step in the right direction."

Did you know?

• Hwang Hee-chan created three chances in this match, his most in a single Premier League game since November 2023 against Sheffield United (4). His assist was also his first in the competition since 3 January against West Ham United.

• At 18 years and 243 days old, Mateus Mane is the youngest player to both score a goal and concede a penalty in a Premier league game, surpassing Jonathan Woodgate (19 years and 85 days old) for Leeds United against Charlton in 1999.

Listen to more from Edwards with BBC Radio West Midlands here

Sam Drury
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Just one more game and then Wolves can put a truly miserable season behind them.

The energy and enthusiasm that was present after back-to-back wins over Aston Villa and Liverpool a couple of months ago has well and truly gone – even the boos at full-time felt weary.

Relegation was an inevitability even back then but Rob Edwards' side were at least showing something to give fans optimism for the future.

But the point against Fulham is just the third since beating Liverpool on 3 March, while Matheus Mane's strike was just the second Wolves have scored since the international break over Easter.

They had their moments against Fulham and looked threatening on the break, particularly in the second half but when chances, and even chances to create chances, were spurned, frustration at Molineux grew.

From having the fans firmly on board, one of Edwards' biggest challenges over the summer and at the start of next term will be to get the home faithful back on side.

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

Have your say on Wolves' performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Come back on Monday for a selection of your replies

Rob Edwards makes four changes to his Wolves side which was beaten 3-0 at Brighton last weekend.

Jose Sa, Ladislav Krejci, David Moller Wolfe and Rodrigo Gomes come in, with Dan Bentley, Toti Gomes, Pedro Lima and Hugo Bueno dropping to the bench.

This will be Wolves' last home game before their eight-year stint in the Premier League comes to an end.

Wolves XI: Sa, Mosquera, S Bueno, Krejci, Moller Wolfe, Rodrigo Gomes, Joao Gomes, Andre, Mane, Hwang, Armstrong

Substitutes: Bentley, H Bueno, Arokodare, Lima, Toti, Bellegarde, Tchatchoua, A Gomes, Edozie

There are also four changes to Marco Silva's Fulham side from their 1-0 home loss to Bournemouth last time out.

Joachim Andersen is suspended after his red card in that game, so Issa Diop replaces him at the heart of the defence.

Silva also brings in Sander Berge, Oscar Bobb and Alex Iwobi, with top-scorer Harry Wilson on the bench alongside Tom Cairney and Samuel Chukwueze.

Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Berge, Bobb, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Muniz

Substitutes: Lecomte, Tete, Jimenez, Wilson, Cairney, Cuenca, Chukwueze, Kevin, King

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

• Manchester United v Nottingham Forest (12:30)

• Brentford v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Everton v Sunderland

• Leeds v Brighton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Wolves v Fulham

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

Kick-offs 15:00 unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Leeds v Brighton" or "ask BBC Sounds to play Newcastle v West Ham", for instance.

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Fulham beat Wolves comfortably at Craven Cottage earlier in the season.

Marco Silva's side are in mid-table and, as the saying goes, 'on the beach' a bit... but even teams who are on the beach should beat Wolves.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Prudent Nsengiyumva
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves welcome Fulham at Molineux on Sunday (15:00 BST) on the penultimate weekend with both sides looking to finish a long campaign on a brighter note. Wolves are already down, while Fulham are trying to avoid ending the season with three straight defeats.

Wolves look for pride after relegation

Wolves have spent most of the season rooted to the bottom, yet they remain capable of troubling stronger sides when it all comes together.

This one is about restoring pride and giving Molineux something to cling to over the summer.

Rob Edwards has walked into a tough situation— a team short on confidence and even shorter on goals.

No side has failed to score in more matches this season (19), and that lack of threat has defined their slide.

Relegation was confirmed in April with five games still to play, ending their eight year stay in the Premier League.

There's also the recent history with Fulham.

Wolves have lost the last two meetings — as many as in the previous 12 — and another defeat would hand Fulham their first league double in this long running fixture.

And Wolves haven't won their final home game in any of the last five seasons.

Edwards will want to break at least one of those patterns and sign off with something more positive.

Will Silva's side finish with a flourish?

Fulham head to the West Midlands looking to steady themselves after two bruising defeats without scoring.

They haven't gone three league games without a goal since late 2023.

And Marco Silva will want a better display to close out a season that has swung between strong spells and frustrating setbacks.

Their European hopes are still alive, but only just.

Fulham can reach a maximum of 54 points, leaving them in a congested chase where they no longer control their own fate.

The Cottagers have been bold and entertaining at times, but their results illustrate how up and down they've been.

Only one victory in five league games.

And there's a familiar face in the mix.

Raul Jimenez, Wolves' record Premier League scorer, faces his former club again and is still searching for his first goal against them.

Katie Stafford
BBC Sport journalist

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

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Goalkeeper Jose Sa is available, while Hugo Bueno and captain Ladislav Krejci are also in contention after training on Friday.

• Edwards said there are a few players with "a couple of knocks," but added that's "normal for this stage of the season".

• On the fans forum that took place midweek: "It was never going to be all sunshine and roses. A lot of people are hurting and that's completely understandable. We are as well. It was valuable and great to hear some of the supporters' points of view, and to listen - as well as to communicate our points too."

• He said he "took a lot of good faith" in the number of supporters who spoke to him after it finished, "showing their support and saying they hope we can be the ones to turn it around".

• He spoke about how they "are going to work really hard now to build a team, a squad, and a better club" for the future.

• On his post-match interview after the Brighton defeat: "I was frustrated with the first five minutes. That was my biggest bugbear because you can't start a game like that. It was a lack of focus and making the wrong decisions, which you can't afford to do against anyone at this level."

• He said they "will chuck everything at it to win" the remaining two games because they "don't want to finish bottom of the league so that's something to aim for".

• On the summer: "There's going to be a lot of change. A fresh look with people who want to be here and have a real hunger from day one. There's always a lot to get over the line, but we want to make sure we are aggressive so that we can get to work straight away." He added it would be "fantastic" to have players in for the first week of pre-season.

• On opponents Fulham: "They are a good footballing team. They have a nice way of going about it and they can compete with anyone on their day as well. Really good individuals. It's a big challenge but one we are looking forward to. Let's just go and deliver a performance."

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

Got a question about Wolves? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

For this week's edition, Daz Hale is joined in the studio by former West Brom midfielder Richard Sneekes.

The show runs from 18:00-19:00 GMT and you can listen again on BBC Sounds afterwards - find all episodes here.

And get involved by calling 08081 009956 - or text 81333, starting your message with WM.

Watch here

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your views on Wolves recent fans forum, which saw head coach Rob Edwards, executive chairman Nathan Shi and technical director Matt Jackson answer a selection of tough questions following the club's relegation.

Did they answer your concerns? Do you believe in them guiding the club back to the Premier League?

Here are some of your thoughts:

Nathan: They have said a lot of the right things, but the real test will be what comes next. This will be one of the most important transfer windows in the club's history - and they have to get it right! They must create a team of loyal, committed players that want to play for the badge. They owe the fans that much!

Graham: Talk is cheap, Mr Shi. Actions speak louder than words.

Simon: From the soundbites given, it seems Shi danced around giving a straight answer. But I'll give him credit, he is more savvy than to promise something that can't be delivered. The proof will be in the actions and what we see on the pitch. However, I do take the stadium plans with a pinch of salt as Fosun may have sold up after getting promotion. I hope to be proven wrong on that point, but only time will tell.

Kevin: I would like to know Edwards' definition of 'maxing out' because, from the games I've seen, the players have nowhere near 'maxed out', in my opinion!

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Wolves/Ed Bagnall

"You should be cynical," said Matt Jackson to the room full of Wolves supporters. He had no fear of disappointment there. This was always going to be a tough crowd.

They kept it respectful, though, at the fans forum at Molineux on Tuesday, which you can hear now on BBC Sounds.

There will be credit due to the Wolves hierarchy in the long run for putting themselves through this hair-shirt exercise in public examination. It's the least they could do, you might think, but occasions like this have become somewhat rarer at big football clubs in recent years.

Fans of many teams can go years without hearing from their club chairman or owner in all but the most sanitised format.

Conspiracy theories were not hard to find once the event was announced, but Wolves asked the BBC to handle the ticket ballot so they could not be accused of selecting a friendly audience – although where you would find one of those among Wolves fans at the moment is a tricky thought.

Your correspondent can personally testify that questions were selected by muttering eeny, meeny and picking one of the dozens of raised hands.

In the long run, the substance of the answers may matter less than the fact that they were being aired in such a public forum at all. With their team having been bottom of the Premier League and doomed for months, many fans have already formed an opinion of Rob Edwards and Matt Jackson, although such views are always reversible if fortunes change.

Their messages, and the strategy they aired for preparing for next season, made sense and were firmly delivered. If they are made real with encouraging results in the early part of next season there will be a more sympathetic hearing next time.

It should be recorded that Edwards and Jackson were both engaged in discussion with fans for some time after the end of the recording. Everyone present, ultimately, desires the same thing.

Reports from Nathan Shi's early meetings with fans groups had been encouraging and he engaged nimbly with all enquirers in his most public appearance to date. Like Edwards and Jackson, his reputation will rise and fall according to results – even before next campaign starts, when fans assess the first squad rebuild on his watch.

But the supporters present seemed more encouraged that at least now there was a man at the top who can hear them. Whatever else is said of them over the next few months, the Wolves senior management cannot now be accused of hiding.

What are you feelings from the fans forum? Can the club get back to where they want to be?

Get in touch with your views here

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Fulham at 3pm on Sunday on BBC Radio WM [95.6FM/DAB/Freeview 714]

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

Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds

Image source, Wolves/Ed Bagnall

As Wolves prepare for life in the Championship for the first time since 2017-18, there will naturally be questions surrounding the club's approach to player recruitment.

In a fans forum this week, executive chairman Nathan Shi was asked about the type of players the club should be looking to retain and attract.

He answered: "When the club doesn't have a clear ambition about where it wants to be, how can you require and demand the players to show their pride?

"I don't want the players to view Wolves as just one stop in their career, so if they play well we give them to Manchester City or Manchester United. If they don't play well, we can still sell them elsewhere.

"I want to have more players that belong with the club in their mind. They should try to be legends of the club. They should be proud to be with the club.

"That will also be a very important criteria when we recruit new players. We need to make this an exciting project, so that we can really be attractive to the players we want.

"We have full support from the shareholders. I cannot tell you about the money they are going to spend because I don't want to look weak on the bargain table this summer. We don't want every club trying to squeeze more money from us."

Current head coach Rob Edwards also weighed in on the same topic - and he was adamant he doesn't want to convince anyone to come to Molineux.

He explained: "We want leadership. We want people to want to be here.

"Ultimately, we are going to try to keep the players that we think are capable, and can handle it mentally and technically. These are all things that you're going to need going into a really difficult season.

"There are five or six key ones [players] that we've had a lot of conversations with and we are working on. But, I will say this as well, they have got to want it.

"If I'm having to work too hard, I'm convincing someone that isn't right for us - and I think that's really important to say. I've experienced that before.

"If there are people thinking: 'What's out there for me?' or 'what else is there in the end?', and if it goes on too long, we have to say: 'Right, you're not for us. You're not going to help us going forward'.

"We need everyone to be on the same page. We've got to see people are going to be playing with heart and passion, and want to be here. That's all we want.

"There is a core group of players here who we believe are good enough and we can build a team around, but if we're having to work too hard to convince them then they aren't the right people."

Listen to the full fans forum on BBC Sounds

How do you feel about what you have heard from the fans forum? Has it answered your questions? Do you back the club to bounce back?

Get in touch with your views here

Read more from the event on the page below

Image source, Wolves/Ed Bagnall

After 28 matches in charge at Molineux, former Wolves player Rob Edwards has recorded just five wins, seven draws and 16 losses.

At a fans forum this week, the 43-year-old was asked if he regretted his decision to leave Championship side Middlesbrough to take up his current managerial position.

He replied: "It has been difficult. I'm here to own up to that and take responsibility as much as anyone.

"We are the ones in the position at the moment, and I need you to know how privileged I know this position is and how proud I am to do this job. I don't take that lightly.

"The position we are in isn't acceptable. It hurts, it really does. I came back here from a really good position at Middlesbrough, knowing the challenges we faced and knowing we could ultimately be in this position, but I want to be a part of moving this club forward.

"It has been mixed. There have been some really difficult moments and we are going through some now.

"There were assurances that it would be a long-term plan but I'm aware, like anyone, that when you go into this job it is a results-based business. I understand that.

"I would've come here if this club was in the National League, I wanted to be here.

"If we get what we want of it, if we are able to do what we want to do in the summer, then we can make real positive changes to how everybody feels about the football club.

"It's difficult. It's tough. You feel it in the stadium. It wouldn't make me feel very well if I was out there reading stuff and listening to stuff because I do care about it. I'm still a human being, we are not robots.

"It hurts as well because you've got pride. You want to take pride in your job and you want to do a good job for the football club. That side of it hurts, but I realise why and I know what we've got to do to put things right.

"I know that we can be feeling very different in a year's time. It's just going to be a lot of hard work and some short-term pain."

Listen to the full fans forum on BBC Sounds

Rob Edwards, Matt Jackson and Nathan Shi have been quizzed by fans at a Wolves Fan Forum hosted by BBC Radio WM.

There was a huge demand for tickets and - whether you got to go or not - BBC Radio WM has made sure you can hear questions answered on priorities for next season, developing young prospects and more.

Hit play to listen to the whole thing above or access it all on BBC Sounds here

You can also find analysis and written coverage of the event on this Wolves page below

Image source, Getty Images

As the Premier League door closes, the Championship door opens.

Wolves' 2025-26 season will no doubt be one to forget, but a fresh campaign often means a fresh slate for struggling clubs.

In a fans forum held on Tuesday, there was plenty of focus on Fosun's promise to reinstate Wolves as a Premier League team within 18 months of relegation - but how will they do it?

Newly-appointed executive chairman Nathan Shi was directly asked about his ambitions for the club.

He replied: "Our mind, our vision and our strategy is going all in for next season. We want to try to get promoted directly and not through the horrible play-offs, that's for sure. That is our mission and our plan.

"After that, our mid-term plan is to be a stable Premier League club. I don't want to promise out of reach things, but I think we need to learn from our previous experience.

"At the same time, we want to enhance our in-house capabilities through the recruitment, the medical and the physio.

"In the long-term, let's see how we do in the short-term and mid-term - and then hopefully we can achieve more and more."

Wolves' technical director Matt Jackson was also asked if the board are planning to bankroll the club's Championship rebuild.

He replied: "Everyone here would think it would be irresponsible of us to reveal our exact financial position, but we know a team getting relegated with parachute payments can be competitive in the Championship. Likewise, we will be competitive - for sure.

"We hate being there. It hurts us every single day. It makes me sick to think about the fact that we are experiencing relegation, but we have to be pragmatic about it.

"We've obviously got deals lined up. We also have targets that we're in very advanced conversations with, from that perspective, so it isn't just a process we're just starting now."

Listen to the full fans forum on BBC Sounds