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Wolves provide latest update on Molineux plans

Wolverhampton Wanderers’ head of marketing Russell Jones has admitted that the chances of redevelopment work starting at the Premier League club’s Molineux stadium in May 2020 are small, with plans to carry out the project “properly as opposed to quickly”.

Wolves have ambitious plans to expand the capacity of Molineux, which currently seats 32,000 fans. The club has previously expressed a wish to start work on the Steve Bull Stand in 2020 with the redevelopment of the Sir Jack Hayward Stand to potentially begin in 2022.

Jones has revealed that he and two colleagues are working on the Steve Bull Stand “almost daily” with the local council. Speaking during Wolves’ recent fans’ parliament meeting, Jones conceded that the chances of development starting immediately following the conclusion of the 2019-20 season are “small”.

Jones explained that the three stands under consideration for renovation work each have five phases to them. The rebuilding of the Steve Bull, Jack Hayward and Billy Wright Stands would expand the capacity of Molineux to 38,000, 43,000 and 50,000, respectively.

At the meeting, fans were told that work on the bottom section of the Steve Bull Stand would ideally be completed in time for the start of a season if it is able to begin as soon as the previous season finishes. The top section of the stand would remain in place at the same time.

Wolves’ executive chairman Jeff Shi has said he is hopeful the club will have a “big” stadium sooner rather than later.

In an interview with Wolves TV, Shi said: “We are talking with the council, I do feel the stadium is not only for the club, it is also for the city, I think it is also for the economy of the city so the best strategy is talking with the council and trying to get support from them.

“Also, we have the investment from the ownership but also I think if they (the council) may help us it may be very, very supportive and really will benefit both the city and club and all the fans here.”

In May, Wolves claimed a first for a Premier League club by announcing that it will install a new barrier seating solution at Molineux. It came after the club announced in January that it would pilot a section of seating options that could be used for safe standing should government legislation on all-seater stadia change.

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