Wolves are currently bottom of the Premier League but, before Saturday’s showdown with Fulham, city shoppers were mostly upbeat over the Molineux club’s future.

Retired Jean Hodgkiss, aged 70, said: “I remember going to watch Wolves when we had the likes of Billy Wright and Stan Cullis so I think it would be a dreadful shame if they went down.

“But we’ve got a good manager, I like Mick McCarthy. He’s done very well and the club has come a long way since he took over.

“The team hasn’t played spectacularly well in the past couple of matches but they have beaten some of the big teams this year.

“If they try really hard, then they can stay up.”

Financial advisor John Smith, aged 48, was a little less upbeat.

He said: “If we lose to Fulham then we are doomed. We aren’t cut adrift at the minute but we’ve dropped too many points over the course of the season. We should have been safe by now.

“There have been too many matches where we’ve been winning and should have put it to bed but we’ve either lost or drawn. That’s where we’ve gone wrong.

“I want to see him bring Jody Craddock back at the weekend, because the other defenders make too many mistakes and don’t have the consistency for this level.”

Football coach Richard Hammonds, aged 27, added: “I think we’re going to pull it out of the bag over the course of the final few games.

“I see the teams around us dropping points and us going up the league.

“If we can keep bagging goals up front and Hennessey can keep them out at the other end then we’ll be fine, because we are quite strong all the way through the team.

“I like Mick McCarthy, he’s a nice bloke. He’s got his head screwed on and speaks sense and that is what you need.”

Unemployed Jonathan Russell, aged 21, was also remaining positive.

He said: “I think we have proved throughout the season that we have enough about us to avoid relegation.

“It’s so close that a couple of wins can take you right up the league.

“Just look at what Villa have done over the last couple of games.”

But semi-retired Frank Hickman, 62, wasn’t so sure.

He said: “I don’t think Mick McCarthy is a good enough manager for the Premier League, it’s going to take a miracle for us to stay up.

“As the league stands at the moment, Wolves are at the bottom so they need to start picking up points quickly. It’s looking grim.

“Saturday is important because if we win we give ourselves a chance, but we need to pick up points in other games as well.

“I cannot see it happening.”

By Stuart Hodge