Man of the people did Wolves proud

Tim Nash, who covered Mick McCarthy's reign for the E&S, pays his personal tribute to the ex-Wolves boss

Wolves may have had better managers. But, the incomparable Stan Cullis aside, they haven't had a prouder one.

And there has never been a more hardworking one either. Even when he was on his bike, he was on his bike, so to speak.

As usual, McCarthy arrived for work yesterday at 7.30am and got changed into his training gear ready for his daily bike ride along the South Staffordshire Railway Walk which runs close to the club's Compton Park training ground.

Waiting for him on his return was chief executive Jez Moxey with an altogether different journey in mind.

When McCarthy finally left Compton, six hours after Moxey had brought the curtain down on the manager's five-and-a-half year reign, it was with his head held high.

And rightly so.

He then drove the two miles to Molineux, where in a tour of the ground, he shook hands with every member of staff from reception to ticket office to commercial department to chefs to administration to tea lady.

It was typical of a man who runs his life by big gestures and entirely in keeping with his in-built mechanism of trying to do the right thing.

This gives you a snapshot of the man who loved managing Wolves.

It's also a glimpse of the type of man they need to help them survive.

In an ironic moment on Sunday afternoon, against a backdrop of 'McCarthy out' chants heard from outside, Roy Hodgson delivered perhaps the most telling quote of a saga about to unfold. "Wolves need to be careful what you wish for".

Because just as Wolves have reluctantly dispensed with McCarthy, they have left behind exactly the type of character needed to get them out of the mess they are in.

The road out of the Premier League is littered with clubs who tried to bring about a change in fortunes by changing managers, only to lose the path back in – Charlton, Leeds and Hull to name but three.

McCarthy made such a big impression on everyone who came into contact with him that he leaves a huge void to fill. In particular, his ability to find those nuggets from the lower divisions at cut-prices sustained Wolves an awful long way.

Indeed, his lasting legacy is the living embodiment of the 'young and hungry' vision in players such as Karl Henry, Stephen Ward, Michael Kightly, Matt Jarvis, Kevin Foley and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.

Apart from recent results, one of the only questionable areas of McCarthy's management was in the player recruitment since promotion.

Because while Kevin Doyle and Steven Fletcher have given huge value for money, there were others who failed to fulfil their potential.

The purchases of the foreign recruits in particular has been a much more qualified one. But in the markets Wolves are currently operating in, there is equal potential for misses as well as hits.

As he contemplates his next move – and there won't be a shortage of takers – there is more Wolves fans should be rightly pleased with McCarthy for.

His preference for dealing with all matters face to face is as refreshing as it is brutal but it makes men out of people. This straightforward approach created a healthy environment where views were aired freely and grievances solved quickly.

Moxey insists McCarthy's replacement must immerse himself in the DNA of Wolves, and so he should because the club has lost an outstanding ambassador. Both literally and metaphorically, no one wore the club tie better.

After the abject failure of Glenn Hoddle to connect with the fanbase, McCarthy built bridges across the community and spread the gospel of Wolves with a passion.

Under him, nothing was too much trouble, and, perhaps for the first time, every single professional visited hospitals, soup kitchens and special schools both at Christmas, and throughout the year.

It's easy to dismiss these things amid the main objective of the job, the almost suffocating demand for Premier League points.

But McCarthy is always aware of the bigger picture; he could see how a quick 'hello' here or handshake there could leave the right impression, and maybe sow the seeds of a future fan or signing.

He has the common touch, and though modest, is painfully aware of how his high-profile position in society can lighten up people's lives.

I lost count of the times when I'd turn up to see him and he was in the reception area happily giving his time to people less fortunate than himself.

And, let me dispel once and for all his so-called reputation of being glum and dour. His outlook is actually remarkably positive.

He has a phrase 'smell the roses', which basically means if you can appreciate a simple pleasure, life ain't bad, and he starts the day by shaking everyone by the hand.

But another quality which shines through is his sense of humour – he could reduce press conferences to fits of laughter with a list of one-liners as long as your arm, which makes him a shoo-in for the after-dinner circuit if he ever turned his back on management, not that I can envisage that.

He remained the same positive presence as he said his goodbyes yesterday, even if there were a few tears among the hugs and handshakes.

Wolves must get the appointment of his successor right. Otherwise there will be plenty more tears.