Mick McCarthy’s vow to Wolves stars
Friday 21st May 2010, 10:21AM BST.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has vowed all of his players will have a clean slate when they return for pre-season training next month.
The squad is back on June 28 for the start of the summer slog, when the manager hopes to have added the four or five faces he wants to strengthen his squad for next season.
McCarthy has released George Friend, Mark Little and Daniel Jones while two loaned players – Michael Mancienne and Segundo Castillo – have returned to their parent clubs.
Several players appear surplus to requirements, while the Molineux chief admits some will want to move on to gain first team football.
But the Wolves boss insisted everyone can change his opinion on them, and cited the example of Ronald Zubar displacing Richard Stearman as evidence of how fortunes can change.
He said: “All we did last season is all wiped away – me, the players, the staff, the lot – it’s all a clean slate. So without a doubt, people can change my mind.
“It does happen – Ronald Zubar wasn’t getting a game but once he got into the team, he played all the games since.
“And I feel for Richard Stearman a bit because he’s done nothing wrong, but he got himself sent off, Zubar came in, scored the equaliser against Crystal Palace, played brilliantly, and he’s been in the side every week since.
“So much for the pecking order!”
McCarthy added: “There might be some who I say ‘do you want to come back and compete again for a place?’
“If they get the position, they can keep someone else out. That has to be the way to get players motivated.
“If they come back knowing they’re not playing, they haven’t got a chance of responding.”
McCarthy admitted there will be some players who will want to leave because their chances of playing appear so restricted.
He said: “There will be some who might want to leave to go and play. But it’s then up to other clubs to put the question to me, so I can put it to them and their agents.
“Then there’s others that I’ve told if they come back in pre-season, they can fight for their slot.”
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