Ex-PGMOL chief 'surprised' by Wolves news amid hearing verdict

Wolves are set to lose out on more than just their academy status as concerns emerge over the club's facilities.

That is according to former PGMOL chief and ex-FIFA referee, Keith Hackett, who exclusively told Football Insider that losing Category One academy status will be a "slight on the club".

There have been some significant changes in the Black Country already, like relegation from the Premier League, and matters could get even worse.

With Cesar Peixoto replacing Rob Edwards in the dugout, fans will be hoping to win promotion straight back to the top tier of English football at the first time of asking.

This will be another distraction, though, especially given how prosperous Wolves' academy has been, producing the likes of Morgan Gibbs-White, Mateus Mane and Hugo Bueno.

According to the Telegraph (24 July), the Old Gold are likely to discover the outcome of an investigation Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) and Men’s Professional Game Committee (MPGC) on Monday, 27 July.

Wolves risk losing 'reputation' over academy status relegation

Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, Hackett revealed that he was taken aback by the news, detailing the potential further blows of academy status relegation.

"I was surprised by that news because when you look around at some of the academies and the quality of what has been built...

"I remind everybody that the instigator of that, to some degree, was Howard Wilkinson way back, who wanted a greater level of technical skills going into players.

"I think he can sit back fairly proud that there's clubs that have achieved that. I think that losing Category One status is a slight on the club and its reputation.

"I've not been to the Wolves facility. But when I have visited many Premier League clubs' facilities, [Aston] Villa, [Man] City, Man United, you think, 'Crikey, science at its best'."

What have Wolves done to combat the concerns?

Losing their Category One academy status, while it may not have immediate repercussions, it definitely will in years to come.

Wolves owners Fosun, understandably, are facing the wrath of the supporters, but there is still time for redemption, it would appear.

It is understood that, upon learning of their potential fate, Wolves unveiled a £10m improvement project to drastically improve facilities, which would be completed by next summer.

With doubts still lingering, the club committed to £700,000 of immediate expenditure to meet regulations on dressing room and classroom space for the upcoming season.

Wolves still await a final decision, and it could be one that impacts the Championship club for years to come.