Wolves currently have arguably their most exciting crop of academy talent since professional youth football was re-structured around the turn of the decade.

Now the man who helped recruit the talent that has seen numerous players graduate to the senior level believes he is leaving an exciting legacy.

Wolves have rewarded a club record seven scholars with professional contracts this summer and, with prospects such as 15-year-old Zeli Ismail being groomed in the system, the future looks rosy for homegrown talent at Molineux.

Tony Lacey, who is retiring after 12 years as Wolves’ head of recruitment, has high hopes for the new crop.

He said: “I wish the Academy all the very best. Looking down from under-16 to under-nines level, I think there are at least two or three really exciting prospects in each group – what happens now is up to them.”

Character and not just ability plays a vital role in spotting the right player, as Lacey explains.

He said: “It can be such a difficult process. From my point of view it’s about a player not thinking he’s made it if he becomes a scholar at 16 or, indeed, turning pro at 18.

“For me, it’s when you’ve played a couple of hundred senior games that you can think you’ve made it.

“It’s all about the mentality and character, which has always been the first thing I’ve looked for.

“A lot of players are technically very good, which is how they reach a certain standard, but the biggest factor for me has always been having a good mentality and that single-mindedness to succeed.”

A former player with Stoke, Port Vale and Rochdale, Lacey had returned to spend almost two decades in the red half of the Potteries in various coaching and managerial capacities, overseeing the recruitment of future stars such as Adrian Heath, Paul Bracewell and Steve Bould.

He was then offered a youth coaching role with Wolves by former academy director Chris Evans, before he moved into a purely recruitment-based position.

Lacey said: “I was coaching for a short time, including a spell in charge of an under-18s team featuring Matt Murray, Lee Naylor, Joleon Lescott and Keith Andrews.

“Robbie Keane wasn’t playing, because he’d gone straight into the first team!

“Those players were already here when I arrived, but since I moved into the recruitment side we’ve also produced the likes of Mark Little, Mark Davies, Daniel Jones, Stephen Gleeson, Sammy Clingan and Leon Clarke who have all played first team football.

“Wayne Hennessey and Carl Ikeme also came through the Academy, so when Matt is fit again that’s not three bad keepers to have on the books that have all come through at the club.

“The key aim for me in terms of recruitment has always been about bringing in players who have a chance of a career in professional football, at whatever level.”

Academy manager Kevin Thelwell rates Lacey is one of the best recruiters of talent in the country and reckons he will always be welcome back.

He said: “He will always be welcome to visit us. We would like to wish him a long and happy retirement.”