The campaigning is over, the main candidates have made persuasive pitches and the electorate has decided on their choice to win.

But this is not Gordon Brown, David Cameron, Nick Clegg and the General Election we’re talking about here.

No, it’s the Wolves end of season awards dinner tonight and the gong for season ticket holders’ Player of the Year would appear to be one of the closest run for years.

But unlike Thursday’s Election, there is little prospect of a hung Parliament at the Telford International Centre.

True, there are several players who can stake a claim for the award won last season by Kevin Foley ahead of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Captain Karl Henry has been a model of consistency and certainly been one of the team’s most influential performers having grown into the skipper’s role.

At 27, Henry is at the top of his game and of all the contenders, is the only one to have started every Premier League game available for apart from the trip to Manchester United.

Like many of his team-mates, winger Matt Jarvis has proved himself to be a top flight player and he has added consistency to his game in the second half of the season.

No one has had a more calming influence on the team than goalkeeper Marcus Hahnemann whose no-fuss, assured goalkeeping, physical and vocal presence helped reduce the goals against flying in at a crucial time.

But the running for the winner appears to have been whittled down to a list of two – Kevin Doyle and Jody Craddock.

Such has been the outstanding impact of the magnificent Doyle that could have been voted Man of the Match in virtually every game played.

There has been some lofty praise indeed lavished on the Republic of Ireland international this season.

Wolves’ record scorer Steve Bull has dubbed him a ‘top-four’ player, boss Mick McCarthy generously claimed his £6.5m record signing produced the best display by a centre forward in Molineux history in the goalless draw against Liverpool while Express & Star columnist John Lalley reckons Doyle is the club’s best player for 30 years.

Now no less a shrewd judge than Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is getting in on the act amid talk of launching a £10million bid for the 26-year-old.

The Gunners boss said: “I like him personally. He is an intelligent striker. He is good everywhere. I have followed him since he was at Reading.”

If Doyle cannot hope to match Bully’s amazing tally of 306 goals or his historical impact on the club over time, he can at least lay claim to other things the legendary crew-cutted striker could not.

While few would argue Bull is the better goalscorer, Doyle is the better footballer.

Bull’s astonishing loyalty meant he never got the chance to terrorise Premier League defenders but, even if he had, would he have been able to lead the line on his own for half a season?

While Doyle’s style is more refined than Bully’s was rampaging, another player of a certain Molineux vintage sees comparison between the Irishman and another Wolves striking great.

Former midfielder and regular Molineux watcher Willie Carr said: “Doyle carries the ball better than John Richards did.

“But John was quicker, stronger and incredibly brave.

“A lot of strikers look to go one way or the other with their backs to goal, but John used to like the centre-half right up against him then turn to face him head-on and somehow bulldoze his way past with his strength.”

At 5ft 10ins tall, Doyle’s size as well as his strength bears comparison with Richards and Bull, who are both under six foot.

Perhaps the biggest tribute you can pay Doyle is that he is already being compared with Wolves’ greats, despite only playing for a season in gold and black.

Talking of seasons brings us to Craddock – for has anyone seen him play better than he has in 2009/10?

At 34, he heads the ball further and – even if he tends to get cut more – reads the game better. As Wolves’ second top scorer with five goals, he is also more of a threat in the opposition penalty area.

Few would have thought he could be in the running soon after the start of the season when he was lost his place – initially through a hamstring injury – and was out for four games having failed to force his way back in.

But the veteran was quickly restored to the line-up and hasn’t looked back since, barely putting a foot wrong for the rest of the campaign. It promises to be a close decision.

Perhaps the final words should be left to those who look like being the two main contenders.

Doyle says of Craddock: “Jody is an unbelievable lad and I hope I’m still as fit and as fresh looking as him after 500 games. I think he inspires people way he keeps going.

“He’s still as fit and as fresh as ever. He’s in the gym every day, and there’s not an inch of fat on him. So there’s plenty of youth left in him.

“The big thing is his experience – I wouldn’t like to be putting my head where he puts his time after time.He’s been unbelievable and I hope he can keep it up.

“Hopefully we’ll be saying the same thing at the end of next season because he’s in excellent condition and centre-halves manage to get a good few more years in.

“He’s as fit as ever.”

Craddock is equally generous in his praise of Doyle.

He said: “Kevin works the opposition back line superbly – he’s so good at holding the ball up and backing in to them and causing problems. For his height, he does it fantastically well – the ball just sticks to him like glue.

“He’s scored some well-taken goals too – I remember the one at Everton was a tough one to finish because he had time, but he needed to score and he did and that’s why the club brought him in.”