Keith Wyness rips into Wolves after latest arrival – ‘this is very worrying for the fans’
Wolves’ new executive chairman has a big job on his hands amid the club’s expected relegation to the Championship.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa, and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who is concerned about Nathan Shi’s lack of football experience.
Jeff Shi was sacked as Wolves’ executive chairman, whilst there is increasing pressure from supporters for the owners to sell the club.
Wolves’ valuation could drop by up to £100million on relegation to the Championship, with an overhaul expected to take place at the club over the coming months.
Wolves facing ‘complex situation’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Fosun should have sold Wolves last year.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the club now lacks the experience and structure to rebuild in the Championship.
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “I think Fosun were probably thinking at some stage that they were going to try and sell, and they might have, you know, they probably were tempted last year, but they’ve held on thinking they could maybe get a better price this year.
“And here we are, they’re now looking at being almost certainly a Championship asset. And they’re going to have to now go into a relegation fight, and they’re going to have to get into a Championship rebuilding phase with no experience at chief executive level.
“The guy that’s coming, Nathan Shi, has got no experience in football, is now going to have to rely totally on Matt Jackson, the sporting director, and Rob Edwards. And both of them, whilst they’re Wolves guys through and through and very talented operators, are they really the ones that can make decisions like this that Fosun are now going to have to suck up and try and rebuild and get back in the Premier League?
“I think Wolves have a serious, serious problem right now with that lack of experience. And I have been through it when you’ve got to rebuild a Championship winning team, which is a completely different thing from a team that’s in the Premier League. I’ve always said that you have three teams.
“You have to get one to get up, one to stay up and then another one to push on from there. So it’s a complex situation again, that you’re now coming into and to have the CEO with no football experience makes no sense, and that is very worrying for Wolves fans.”
Leading contender emerges amid Rob Edward sack fears
Rob Edwards’ position as manager could be under threat if Wolves’ poor form continues, with the 43-year-old yet to win a game in charge of the club.
Robbie Keane could replace Edwards as Wolves boss if the position becomes vacant this season, with the 45-year-old currently in charge of Ferencvaros in Hungary.
Keane was a contender for the Celtic job before Wilfried Nancy was appointed manager, but he has recently signed a new contract at Ferencvaros.