Wolves correspondent Tim Nash talks to chief executive Jez Moxey about how the club tackled the Premier League transfer market this summer.

The men at Molineux have spent like never before this summer.

Nine new signings at a cost of around £18million in more than 30 attempted transactions – of those chief executive Jez Moxey admitted to – has finally seen the dust settle on the busiest few months of transfer market activity in Wolves’ history.

The work started on April 18, when the champagne corks started popping after the 1-0 victory over QPR, and ended after 5pm on Tuesday night with the departure of Neill Collins to Preston.

In those 136 days, Moxey – the man at the hub of it all – has wheeled and dealed to reshape the identity of Wolves’ squad in readiness for the challenge of the Premier League.

But Molineux’s most senior paid officer believes the period will be consigned to the history books rather than set a precedent – and hopes the club never have to embark on such a busy period again.

He said: “Hopefully we won’t have to buy nine players in one such short space of time ever again – that’s the objective because the idea now is that we’ve got a base in place to progress.

“It’s been non-stop. We’ve signed nine new players, signed five existing players on new contracts, signed seven academy players on professional contracts and sold players such as Elliott Bennett and Stephen Gleeson.

“We’ve arranged loans for Neill Collins, Jason Shackell and George Friend, not to mention the ones we worked on but didn’t come to fruition such as Scott Dann, James McCarthy and James Harper, which took a lot of effort.

“Getting the players we wanted, within the parameters we were working to, has brought a real sense of satisfaction.”

At the heart of the planning of the Three Ms – owner-chairman Steve Morgan, Moxey and manager Mick McCarthy – was the continuation of the ‘young and hungry’ policy that has served the club so well.

Right from the start of the summer, Moxey pledged to spend smart rather than overspend on short term fixes.

So, while fees have been modest in Premier League terms – apart from the club record £6.5million outlay on Kevin Doyle – the wages are believed to be similarly in keeping, with no-one believed to be on more than £22,000 a week.

The club’s hierarchy have been true to their word, with all outfield signings between the ages of 22-year-old Michael Mancienne and 27-year-old Stefan Maierhofer, which should ensure Wolves see their best years. The only exception overall is goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann at 37.

Moxey said: “We’re very pleased with the business we’ve done. We’ve got a good mix and blend of the policy we’ve adopted over the last three years and have continued with.

“We feel we’ve got good quality young players coupled with bringing in more experienced players. We’ve got a good squad, indeed what I believe to be the youngest in the Premier League.

“Regardless of what happens this season, that statement bodes very well for the future.”

At the heart of all the activity is the cool currency awash in the Premier League  – money.

It’s a factor that draws a weary ‘tell me something I don’t know’ expression from Moxey, who steadfastly continues to discuss how much Wolves have paid for any player.

Instead, the chief executive is keen to stress that the telephone number fees are immaterial when placed against their impact in that gold and black shirt.

He said: “There’s a myth that simply spending money equates to ambition.

“But no-one would say Michael Kightly, who has been one of the most exciting signings made in the modern history of this club, has been a poor signing yet he has been one of the cheapest the club has made at £25,000.”