Express & Star

How Sir Jack Hayward built Wolves' Golden Palace

He is the man Wolves fans have to thank for designing the Golden Palace, working side by side with Sir Jack Hayward.

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As the architect behind Molineux's redevelopment in the 1990s, Alan Cotterell had the job of making the tycoon's vision into reality.

Today Mr Cotterell, who lives in Perton, pays tribute Sir Jack and gives an fascinating insight into how the new Molineux was created.

"I want people to know that Sir Jack was involved in every aspect and at every stage of the rebuild," the 80-year-old said speaking with youthful enthusiasm.

"People think it is easy for a wealthy man to throw £13 million to build a new stadium. What he did was much more than that. It was the effort and the kind way he did it.

The order of service for Sir Jack Hayward's funeral taking place today:

"We worked closely together. I have never worked for someone who had such a grasp on a project as he did."

Wolverhampton City Council bought Molineux and the surrounding land after the club entered receivership at the end of the 1986.

The Taylor Report which followed the Hillsborough Disaster in 1989 had started a new wave of stadium redevelopments across the country with clubs moving to all-seater stadiums.

A report had been prepared for Wolverhampton Council putting a rebuild of the stadium at £13.5-£15 million.

A view of Molineux's old Waterloo Road Stand

Mr Cotterell, who ran Alan Cotterell Practice Ltd architecture firm, was concerned the scheme was not financially viable and contacted Wolves' chairman Jack Harris.

Mr Harris requested a meeting the next day on December 20 in 1990, and Mr Cotterell spent his entire Christmas drawing up a draft scheme which would cost £9 million and was immediately appointed as the club's architect.

It was the start of a partnership that would see the dilapidated ground transformed into a stadium to rival any in the land.

The 80 year-old recalled: "Sir Jack was anxious to build the best, safest and most efficient stadium with perfect viewing for all supporters and with facilities to support the local community.

"To him it was Wolverhampton. He could saw it as a way it could serve the public, hosting weddings, dances, business conferences.

With a book containing a personal message from Sir Jack Hayward, Alan Cotterell, of Perton, who helped to design the Molineux

"He felt it could support a lot of people.

"One of the first things he did was appoint Billy Wright to the board which was a stroke of genius.

"He was a great asset. When I went to meetings with the board I would sit next to Billy Wright. He was my boyhood idol and I could not believe that this was happening at times.

"The relationship Sir Jack had with his board was brilliant. There was a great team spirit underneath him.

"They respected Sir Jack. He was generous in everything he did and he never spoke ill of anybody."

Rebuilding work on the Jack Harris Stand

The scheme was huge.

It involved three new stands, old floodlights, and moving the pitch - all while allowing matches to continue. There was also an emphasis on providing facilities for community events. It was also an important part of the business plan to creating a quality entertaining spaces to generate new incomes. Giving every fan an uninterrupted view of the pitch was a personal request from Sir Jack.

Water was collected from the roofs of the new Stan Cullis stand to be used on the pitch. And there was a pioneering control room for police and match safety officials.

There was even science behind the design of the toilets to make sure no one was left waiting to spend a penny by the time the second half kicked off.

Holding an artists impression of the Billy Wright stand, Alan Cotterell, of Perton, who helped to design the Molineux with Sir Jack Hayward.

"I spent two games counting all the people in and out of the toilets and how long they took, said Mr Cotterell.

"It may sound daft but it is very important as people getting heated waiting for the toilet as the game is about to re-start is a potential safety issue."

In the early days of the project there was a meeting between Sir Jack, his son Jonathan, and Mr Cotterell with Wolverhampton Council.

"The chief executive asked Sir Jack where the money was coming from," said Mr Cotterell. "Sir Jack turned and looked at Jonathan and said 'it's my children's inheritance'. That was the sort of personality Sir Jack was like."

As a proud Wulfrunian and Wolves fan, it was a dream job for Mr Cotterell who has no interest in seeking praise for his work.

"People say what are you most proud of. I am not one for egos. It is about giving people enjoyment. I was walking between the stands on a match day and Wolves scored and there was this tremendous roar. It went right up my spine - that is the most satisfying part."

The Queen opens Molineux in 1994 with Mr Cotterell, left, and Sir Jack

Sir Jack, known as Union Jack because of his love of Great Britain, famously insisted that every part of the stadium was made from British components 'down to the last bolt'.

"He was true to his word and bar some of the steel of the Stan Cullis stand everything was," said Mr Cotterell.

"There was one rather funny moment when there was uproar among some of the workers at the stadium because some of the wooden hoardings had been painted in Dulux (Australian origin) and not Manders - I suspect they just had some tins knocking about and thought nothing of it."

He recalls walking on the pitch with Sir Jack looking at the newly developed stadium and suddenly being given a new job.

"We are walking across the pitch and he asked how much it would cost to refurbish the old John Ireland stand. I gulped and said £1 million. He said 'OK get on with it'.

"The speed at which he worked and made decisions was impressive."

Mr Cotterell said he was never short of work after completing the overhaul of Molineux.

A personal message from Sir Jack Hayward, to Alan Cotterell, of Perton, who helped to design the Molineux with Sir Jack.

He later designed Reading's Madejski Stadium, Oxford;s Kassam Stadium and Wolverhampton Racecourse.

"Sir Jack told me he was speaking to John Madejski and John would tease him. He would say 'I'm glad Alan practised on your's first'."

Paying tribute to Sir Jack, he said: "He was a man of utmost integrity, very efficient with quick decisions.

"Respected by everyone he met and was an honour and pleasure to work with.

"He had a warm, kind and generous disposition towards people.

"He fully understood the various design criteria and was very positive in his approach.

"He was absolutely committed to the Wolves and the local community - a true Wulfrunian Hero for all his philanthropic work.

"It was people who mattered to him."

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