Jeff Shi may or may not be under much scrutiny from his superiors in Shanghai, but he is under some serious pressure from the fanbase of Wolverhampton Wanderers and it’s all totally self-inflicted.
“If you only pursue trophies or consistent European football, Wolves might not be an ideal choice” – The terminology of a steward that makes it sound like he doesn’t understand the fanbase of the club he represents or what it means to be a football fan.
It is only fair that the good times during his tenure are acknowledged, however those days feel like a distant memory and in recent times Wolves have looked more like a club on the decline.
Multiple poor decisions eventually caught up with Wolves and as a result last summer the club were forced to cash in on many players to stay financially compliant within the rules of the Premier League.
As fans we accepted that our collective belt had to be tightened – albeit thanks to the club’s years of mismanagement in the transfer market – after all, nobody wanted the dramas seen at Forest and Everton repeated here.
But the continued lack of investment in infrastructure at Molineux is inexcusable. FFP isn’t the reason bollards outside the stadium have paint peeling from them, nor is it the reason once white fascias now more resemble a browny green.
Visions of expanding Molineux have been emphatically shelved, so it seems have any prospect of general upkeep, a customer-facing facility requirement.
“If you only love your local team and don’t mind their sporting achievements, Wolves may not be the one either,” Shi’s ill-timed and self-serving diatribe continued.
Most Wolves fans also accept that as a Premier League club the scope of their endeavour must expand outside of the WV postcode, what isn’t – and won’t be- is it being at the expense of so-called legacy fans who were there at Carlisle in League One and will be here long after Fosun decide they have taken everything they need.
Wolves is a one-club city which lives and breathes for its football team. Nuno understood that, his donation to those less fortunate during his time in the dugout represented a man who understood the fan base significantly more than those who hired – and ultimately – fired him.
Reluctantly, fans accept that football clubs are a business, but they aren’t like any other kind of organisation as supporters can only get the product they want from the club they love.
Almost a decade in as a representative of the conglomerate, yet such an apparent lack of understanding or care for those who live and breathe this famous old football club.
For you Jeff, Wolves may not be an ideal choice.