Wolves set to announce new sponsorpublished at 13:49 29 May
13:49 29 May
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves are close to announcing online betting company DeBet as their new main sponsor.
The deal with the Vietnamese company is expected to be confirmed in the next few days, with Hwang Hee-chan and Mario Lemina already appearing on its website.
In April last year, Premier League clubs voted to voluntarily ban front-of-shirt sponsorship deals with betting companies from the 2026-27 season.
The Molineux club’s deal with former sponsors AstroPay, who had been on the front of shirts for two years, ended this summer.
Letter and petition urges Wolves to reconsider ticket price risespublished at 11:10 28 May
11:10 28 May
Image source, Reuters
An open letter and a petition signed by more than 11,000 people has been sent to Wolves, to ask the club to reconsider season ticket price increases for the 2024-25 season.
The letter, signed by various fan groups and media channels, criticised an "extortionate increase for disabled and junior supporters" and urged the club "in the strongest possible terms to reconsider your approach and pricing strategy to protect this club for future generations".
Wolves supporter Alex Moore, from the Old Gold Pack, told BBC Radio WM: "We, like many fans, have been left truly shocked by the announcement that came out last week.
"It's left many in the fan base feeling disillusioned, frustrated and angry. It's going to cause a lot of people, in a cost-of-living crisis, to question whether or not they can renew or are they going to be faced with being priced out of a love, a passion and a community that has been constant all of their lives? It's been a saviour for a lot of people.
"This has led to us putting out a joint statement along with many other fan groups, with the aim of highlighting the strong objection to these increases by the fans. We really hope the club reconsiders its approach. This is about standing up for future generations of this club, the lifeblood of this club, and standing up for what is right."
When the prices were announced last week, Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said: "We do listen to fan feedback, and we understand that price increases are unpopular, but our aim is to ensure our prices are neither significantly higher nor lower than our peers.
"Our ticketing team has thoroughly researched and compared Wolves with other clubs, and I believe our pricing reflects a fair and reasonable balance based on our current position, past growth and future aspirations."
Fan thoughts on season-ticket hikespublished at 16:30 24 May
16:30 24 May
We asked for your thoughts on season ticket price increases at Wolves. In recent days fan groups have raised frustrations, with some calling for a boycott of the tickets. Various sections of the ground have seen price changes, with some tickets up 17% and one category of under-14s tickets up 176% in price from £105 to £290.
"As chair of the trust, I want you to boycott it," Daniel Warren, from the Wolves 1877 Trust, told BBC Radio WM.
Here are some of your replies on the story:
Simon Asbury: I will not be renewing my season ticket. I hope the person who gets my seat will support them in the Championship. I live in Nottinghamshire and will in the future watch Mansfield Town.
Chris: This increase is obscene. They no longer care about passion, they only want money! The economy of Wolverhampton is far worse than that of London.
Jamie: Once in a while, you have to try and stop corporate greed. Premier League tourism is a new phenomenon allowing owners to increase season ticket prices knowing they can replace those who can't afford it with fair weather football fans. They don't support Wolves; they are there to see the Premier League. Today's announcement is so unjustified.
Nick: I actually think it’s not bad. Our tickets have hardly gone up over the last five years. The cost of living has affected clubs. It also might sort a problem at Wolves in how hard it is to get tickets because the same faces have kept a monopoly on them. Maybe now the rest of us can get them.
Tony Dixon: Scandalous price rise of 17% for me and my pension increase was 8%. Mine has doubled in the last three seasons. Supported and followed wolves for 65 years but I am not sure this can continue. So thanks Jeff Shi, you are achieving your aim to remove elderly support from the ground to attract younger supporters at a higher cost.
Ashleigh: My ticket has increased from £730 to £835, which in itself is ridiculous. The real blow though is that I plan on taking my kids when they're older as I live in East Manchester and would've loved my kids to support Wolves. However the children's price increases are abhorrent. They'll now likely grow up supporting Man City, and I can't blame them.
'Wolves are almost pricing out the next generation of fans'published at 16:29 24 May
16:29 24 May
Image source, Getty Images
Following the news that Wolves' have increased the prices of season tickets, Dave Azzopardi from the Talking Wolves' podcast told BBC Radio WM: "It's been a really disappointing few days to be associated with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
"It's really disappointing to see the football club do this - we saw the positive news about VAR and it looked like Wolves really cared about the fans. Now we've seen this, it's almost a total U-turn and a massive own goal from the club.
"The thing that disappoints me a lot about this is the price rises and the percentage increase in the children's and the disabled season tickets - Wolves are almost pricing out the next generation of fans, which is really disappointing for me to see.
"Families and parents will probably not be able to afford to take their children to Wolves games either now or in the future. The issue will come where they will support other teams."
He continued: "I understand that prices of everything have gone up but not at the rate Wolves are expecting fans to pay."
"Wolves have unnecessarily priced out a number of fans and unfortunately fans who have spent tens of thousands are now going to be forced to sit at home and listen to the radio, or watch the highlights after the matches have happened."
Wolves fans have now put together a petition page asking for change and Azzopardi said: "I really hope Wolves see this and hold their hands up and realise they've made a mistake and review these season ticket prices."
'Shock-waves through the fanbase'published at 15:46 24 May
15:46 24 May
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves fan groups have released a joint statement to share their frustrations over a ticket price hike and have launched a petition in protest against the move.
The statement, issued by seven supporter organisations, says: "The recent announcement of the cost of season ticket prices for the 2024-25 season has sent shock-waves through the fanbase.
"Match going fans are the lifeblood of any football club, the very essence of what a football club is. These very fans are now left disillusioned, with feelings of frustration and anger at yesterday's announcement.
"We have seen the great work done by the club in the local community and more recently around mental health - something to be incredibly proud of. Meanwhile, Gary O'Neil and the players have helped to rebuild that special connection with the fans.
"Unfortunately, Thursday's announcement shows how detached the club's decision-makers are from the great work of the Wolves Foundation for our city and its people. We encourage those at the club to reconsider the approach to ticket prices before irreversible damage is done to the fanbase and the local community.
"It is not too late to reconsider and preserve the future of the club for the fans that helped get us where we are today. To preserve the very lifeblood of this famous old club.
"As fans, we remain loyal to our club through the good times and the bad. But since this announcement we've seen many people question the direction of where we are heading, and if they want to be a part of it anymore.
"Wolverhampton Wanderers FC has always been a pillar of the local community and surrounding areas. How much the club values that community is now very much in question.
"We strongly encourage the club to reconsider its approach."
Fans 'appalled' by season-ticket increasepublished at 12:47 24 May
12:47 24 May
Image source, Getty Images
Wolves fans have spoken of being "appalled" and "let down" in light of season ticket price increases at Molineux.
On Thursday, the club published new prices for the 2024-25 campaign, with some sections of the ground subject to substantial rises.
BBC Radio WM presenter Daz Hale says the cost of his ticket has gone up 17%. Meanwhile, tickets for under-14s in the Billy Wright Upper have increased in price from £105 to £290, a rise of 176%.
The club were invited to comment on Hale's football phone-in on Thursday but declined.
On the Wolves website,, external owner Jeff Shi stressed commercial growth is "vital" for the club, adding: “We do listen to fan feedback, and we understand that price increases are unpopular, but our aim is to ensure our prices are neither significantly higher nor lower than our peers."
Supporter Ryan, from The Wolves Report podcast, said: "What a day. A sad day for Wolves supporters. It’s really hard to stomach for me, sitting in the North Bank with my elderly mother. A 17.6% rise from £625 to £735. These prices are just unrealistic. I cannot see how anybody can justify these prices.
"Between us, it looks like it will go up £240 to £250 for two season tickets. It’s not realistic or in touch with society or the state of the country.
"Crystal Palace finished 10th - a 0% increase. Aston Villa up 5% and they finished fourth with Champions League football. We finish 14th with no number nine all season and are asked to pay an extra 17.6%. And we are some of the lucky ones - some are paying an extra 40% depending on if their age range is going up.
"It is utterly disgusting what the club have done to the supporters."
Daniel Warren from the Wolves 1877 Trust told the West Midlands Football Phone-In: "I’ve really struggled to comprehend what that ticketing increase has meant for me personally and loads of fans I talk to.
"For a lot of people they’ve been going 20 years and it has priced them out. They've said they aren’t doing it any more.
"I’m appalled. I don’t think the club have read the room.
"We looked as a trust at the benchmarking at all of the ticket prices. Wolves finished 13th for pricing, which is where we are in the league. This increase puts us way up in the top half.
"This is a regrettable position we have come to as a Trust. As the chair of the trust, I want you to boycott it. The only way they will listen is if there are empty seats in that stadium."
Wolves will try to offload trio published at 17:23 23 May
17:23 23 May
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport Football News Reporter
Wolves will look to sell Goncalo Guedes, Fabio Silva and Daniel Podence to help raise transfer funds.
The club will try to offload the trio, who have been out on loan this season, permanently this summer before considering selling one of their stars.
Wolves are still working with a tight budget and raising money is key for Gary O’Neil’s summer business.
They will still be active in the market but extra money will allow O’Neil more scope to bring in new players.
Pedro Neto remains the biggest asset at Molineux and the club will demand £60m if they need to sell the Portugal international.
They are under no pressure to sell having raised around £136m by selling Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Conor Coady and Nathan Collins last summer.
In March, they reported a £67.2m loss for the financial year to 31 May 2023 but were within profit and sustainability regulations.
Guedes joined from Valencia for £27.5m two years ago but has failed to make an impact and has had loan spells at Benfica and Villarreal.
Wolves signed striker Silva in a then club record deal worth £35m in 2020 but he has scored just five goals and spent time at Anderlecht and PSV before joining Rangers on loan in December.
Podence has made 105 appearances, scoring 16 times, and helped Wolves to the Europa League quarter finals in 2020 after joining from Olympiakos.
He signed a new contract until 2025, with the option for a further year, before returning to Olympiakos on loan in September.
Southampton’s Che Adams remains of interest, with the striker out of contract, and the Saints face Leeds in the Championship play-off final on Sunday.
Wolves face ticketing backlashpublished at 16:28 23 May
16:28 23 May
A prominent Wolves supporter group has called for fans to boycott the club's season ticket renewal process due to hikes in prices.
The club has moved to introduce a number of increases across its ticket categories.
Adult season tickets in the family enclosure have increased from £635 to £780,, external while under-14s in the family enclosure, the Billy Wright lower, have seen prices jump from £105 to £245.
Dan Warren, chair of the 1877 Supporters Trust, said: "My season ticket is due to go up by over £100. I'm really disappointed with the club. We have had continual price rises now for six years. Every season we have been in the Premier League where fans have been allowed in the stadium we have had price rises. This price rise though is something very different - it is way above the level of inflation. It is way above what any fan's realistic expectation of what a ticketing price increase should be.
"As chair of the Trust I will not be renewing my ticket in protest and will also be calling on other fans to boycott the renewal process."
"I believe the final pricing is a fair and reasonable reflection of where we are now, where we were and where we are heading. Why is commercial growth so important? Some fans may argue that the TV rights revenue from the league is always the main source of cash.
"They are right, however, from the cost side: wage bills can easily offset all the broadcasting contribution. In fact, clubs’ disposable income is mostly from commercial areas, which is also the key difference between the bigger clubs and us.”
BBC Radio WM's Football Phone-In is running from 18:00 and they'll be taking calls on the issue
Expert season review: 'Mid-table finish remains progress'published at 13:02 23 May
13:02 23 May
Nick Mashiter BBC Sport Senior Football News Reporter
Has it been a season of progress, stagnation or indifference?
There is frustration with how the season tailed off but it should not overshadow what should be considered a positive one after Gary O’Neil took over four days before the opening game.
The campaign fell away after the FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Coventry in March with one win in their last 11 games ending European hopes yet a mid-table finish remains progress after O’Neil’s arrival.
Biggest success for club this season?
Individual players who had previously struggled for consistency – notably Hwang Hee-Chan, Nelson Semedo and Matheus Cunha – improved under O’Neil.
The unity around the club is also evident, something which could have fractured at the start of the season.
Biggest let down or frustration?
It is hard to look past the VAR issue, especially given Wolves’ resolution for the Premier League’s AGM to scrap the technology. They were on the end of numerous wrong decisions before Max Kilman’s last-minute leveller against West Ham was disallowed which was the straw which broke the camel’s back.
Key item on the summer agenda?
Outside of raising funds for transfers, sporting director Matt Hobbs will sit down and discuss a new deal with O’Neil. The head coach has admirers and has only improved his reputation this season so keeping him at Molineux is a priority, although no talks have been held yet.
McNulty's end-of-season reportpublished at 07:15 23 May
07:15 23 May
McNulty’s pre-season prediction: 18th
Actual finish: 14th
A summer of upheaval ended with the departure of manager Julen Lopetegui but a season that threatened the worst was transformed into one of calm consolidation after the wise decision to replace him with Gary O’Neil following his surprise dismissal by Bournemouth.
Wolves have progressed enough for O’Neil to feel he can now move them forward again – and both he and their supporters will feel they could have done even better but for some pretty rotten video assistant referee (VAR) decisions that went against them.
They certainly made a nonsense of my relegation prediction, given before O’Neil’s appointment, but which I probably would not have changed after it.
"Never one to shy away from a challenge, Brazil international Cunha has been Wolves' primary source of goals and assists this season. He is versatile, a great ball carrier and, of course, he bagged a fine goal at the Hawthorns, already making him a Wolves legend!"
Season rating: 7/10. Expectations were low at the start but then Gary O'Neil had us dreaming of Europe in January. Sadly, we ran out of steam but it has been a good campaign overall.
Happy with your manager? I am impressed with the job O'Neil has done this season and I am looking forward to him hopefully being able to craft his own team - that is if the club back him in the summer, which remains to be seen.
Unsung hero: Nelson Semedo has quietly had a great season for Wolves. He has been great in possession and mostly solid in defence. He has been vital to how Wolves play.
Player you would most like to sign: Signings will, unfortunately, hinge on a big departure for Wolves, but it is important to only let one of Joao Gomes, Rayan Ait-Nouri or Pedro Neto go this summer.
Best away fans: I am always impressed by the Manchester United away support and this season was no different. However, I do feel away support - and home support - is getting worse. That could be a by-product of VAR sucking the spontaneity out of the game.
Image source, Getty Images
