Legends Kenny Hibbitt and John Richards fear Wolves slump will go on
Wolves’ greats Kenny Hibbitt and John Richards today admitted their fears for a 1980s-style decline for the club.
Both legends were at Molineux for the start of the most turbulent time in the club’s history which saw Wolves relegated from the top flight to the Fourth Division from 1983-86.
No club has ever repeated the unwanted feat but the present-day Wolves could emulate that record of tumbling from the first to the third tier in double-quick time if they end up going down again.
Hibbitt and Richards attended last night’s first reunion of the 1980 League Cup success against Nottingham Forest – the last time the club won a major trophy – and revealed their worries for their beloved club.
Wolves went into today’s visit of Bristol City – who were staying at the same Copthorne Hotel in Brierley Hill as the 1980 heroes dined at last night – second from bottom and two points from safety.
“I hope it doesn’t work out that way but I’m sure it’s a worry for the fans,” said Hibbitt.
“From dropping out of the Premier League to seeing them now where they are in the Championship, I just hope what happened to us in 1984 doesn’t come along again.
“Financially the club is far better off now, but the team has won once in 11 games which is like us when we went down in 1984.
“We folded like a deck of cards. I haven’t watched Wolves this season but it doesn’t look good.”
Richards added: “I think all the fans find it very difficult to look at the table and know why we are where we are, especially with the support Wolves get.
“You look at teams who have been in the top flight recently such as Hull and ones that are still there like Wigan and think they shouldn’t be there instead of Wolves. But that’s football.
“Once, you’re out of the Premier League, it’s really difficult to get back in. It’s 33 years since we last won a major trophy and when do you see that happening again?
“We’ve had two or three generations of fans who haven’t seen that success and that’s why there was such a response to the dinner last night."
Comments for: "Legends Kenny Hibbitt and John Richards fear Wolves slump will go on"
I will call myself Kevin
Baggies fan here is that Willie Carr bottom, second left
I will call myself Kevin
Names underneath team now thanks
black and gold blood
we wont hold it against you comeing here being a sandwell united fan,but come on asking stupid questions like that when the names of our mighty players are under the pic is showing why you are a sandwell united fan..come on get a grip
Noisy
The telling line is 'financially we are in a much better position'. The failure to invest is exactly why we are in great danger of going down. Also the lack of transparency makes it impossible to tell whether the club is being overly prudent or actually being used a cash cow. Anyone who comes on here suggesting a further relegation would be good and we need to start again, clear out the dead wood etc etc needs to go back and read what people were writing this time last year along the same lines. However none of this matters today, all Wolves fans need to get to the match and support the team for 90+ minutes.
English Exile
Worse thing Wolves ever did was to replace a footballing man ( John Richards) with Jez Moxey.
Benedictus
Short memory eh ? Under John Richards the highest Wolves finished was 7th in the Championship, even with the free-flowing money from the "Golden tit" and bully still scoring regularly. One season we finished 20th. We had such luminaries as Mark McGhee. and Colin Lee as manager and were the club which gave so many great players their last chance. Unfortunately most of them just wanted one last payday and Wolves was the cash machine.
Ah, the good old days (not) but of course you forget that under JR (who I loved as a player) as MD things were a little chaotic.
Mike Gough
Yes, sold Robbie Keene for 5M, with no sell on. That's why we need Moxey.
chris h
Mike, He sold Keane for £6m.The original bidding was £5m and he got an extra million .John also made sure some sort of replacements were signed immediately in Akinibiyi and Ndah. We made a further £3m profit later on when Akinbiyi was sold. Do you really think John Richards would have been daft enough to waste the Akinbiyi money on Robert Taylor,like Moxey did? I also would like to think John Richards would have made sure the club properly replaced our main goalscorer,Fletcher. If that had been arranged we would not be in this mess now. In truth we needed both an accountant and a football specialist working together at Board level. Trouble is Jez likes to be in contol too much for that to work.
Solentwolves
The bond they formed as a team back then has clearly stood the test of time - good to see them back together again.
slama01902
get them some boots for this afternoons match we need some passion on the pitch
Hermanus-wolves
What caused the last capitulation?
This current one could be down to having players with no backbone and management with no planning skills.
We do have triers but they are the new boys and the youngsters.
I've supported wolves for 55 years and watched managers come and go and what PS ME OFF is that when they leave and join another club they have better success than at wolves. So it can't always be the manager.
What is it? Why isn't wolves successful? By all rights we should be there with Man U Chelsea etc. So what has gone wrong for 30 odd years?
AndyL
"By all rights we should be there with Man U Chelsea etc" How deluded are you?
When will Wolves fans like you accept that Wolves are not a big club, you have top earn the right , remember league tables dont lie.
razor
How exactly did Chelsea "Earn" the right ? They bought the right, that's all. Chelsea are no bigger than Wolves in terms of history, fan base and potential - they just happen to be in London, thereby presenting a sexier image for a Russion billionaire to buy as a plaything - so don't talk to me about them earning the right. Man Utd have been earning the right I guess for years, but look at how much money they lose year on year funding "the right".
Andyl
Couldn't agree more that they have benefited from a rich benefactor but at the end of the day you still have to win them on the field.
So 4 league titles,4 European trophies, 7 fa cups and 4 league cups in my opinion earns them the right to be deemed a big club they are the current champions league holders.
To currently compare wolves with them has no logic at all in any of the things you have stated, have you not seen the empty seats at your ground week in week out.
I think the fact that the thread we are blogging on which states wolves have not won a major trophy since 1980 really backs up my belief.
Oh and in case you are wondering I am not a Chelsea fan, don't even like them but in my opinion and that's all it is your comment has no credibility based on the facts
disgruntleddingle
"What caused the last capitulation?" - Building a new stand that was neither required OR desired instead of investing the money into the team! Sound familiar!?
It's the fans....
Having supported and watched Wolves for 30+ years the one commin thing running through our 'under performance' is the crowd. The one period when the crowd at Molineux really supported the team even through poor performances was the last promotion year and the first year of the Premiership and look at the success it brought.
The fans though are nervous and when something doesn't go right on the pitch they (we) start to fret and that passes on to the players.
Symptoms include:
1) A better away record than home record (throughout the years)
2) Letting leads slip even 2 goal leads in the last few minutes of games
3) No one being available to recive throw ins (keep the ball away from me, I might make a mistake and the crowd will get on my back)
4) Players who struggled with form going elsewhere and becoming stars.
We can make things better by supporting the team vocally through thin as well as thick. The South Bank can stop singing their toxic songs too including 'we'll sing on our own' which is frankly no help at all.
chris h
Please tell me one season in the last 50 years when our away form has been better than our home form.Was it the fans fault that Frankowski couldn't score a goal,home or away.Was it the fans fault for that crazy own goal. Was it the fans fault that signings like Halford,Maierhofer,Jonnson etc etc were just not up to it.Is it the fans fault that the fans in the new stand for the first 15 rows get wet when it rains,because of poor design the roof ain't big enough.Was it the fans fault that the club made £31m profits when in the Premier league and spent most of this on the stadium rather than improving the team.You are looking at the wrong place,try the Director's box.They are the people responsible for wasting opportunity after opportunity .
JDG
Kenny Hibbitt: "I haven’t watched Wolves this season ...".
You are not alone Kenny. I'm sure more people will begin to avoid match days - until major changes are made at the club.
knocker knowles
Captain Morgan has appointed a complete disaster of a manager in Dean Saunders I fear the worst possible outcome !
Tony
It is difficult to see how the club can justify retaining a manager who has only won 1 Championship game out of 11, having taken over the 10th most expensively assembles squad in the whole country (Steve Morgan-Fans Parliament Feb 27 2013).
JOHN DOE
I HAVE SUPPORTED WOLVES FOR OVER FIFTY YEARS AND READ THESE WEB PAGES EVERY DAY HOPING TO SEE
SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THE TEAM WITH REGARD TO LOAN SIGNINGS,SEEING DS COMMENTS IN THE WEEK STATING TEAMS
WILL NOT LET PLAYERS GO UNTIL THEY ARE CLEAR OF RELEGATION JUST SHOWS WHERE WE ARE LOOKING FOR PLAYERS
WE SHOULD BE LOOKING FOR LOAN PLAYERS FROM TEAMS IN THE TOP SIX OR SEVEN IN THE PREMIERSHIP BUT OFCOURSE
THEIR WAGES ARE MUCH HIGHER AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM( MORGAN WILL NOT SPEND THE MONEY EVEN IF IT MEANS
WOLVES GO DOWN) I ASK MYSELF WHY DO WE ALL BOTHER TO LEAVE COMMENT WHEN THEY WILL NOT MAKE THE SLIGHTEST DIFFERENCE TO THE WAY THE CLUB IS RUN,I THING MORGAN IS PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME HOPING THINGS
COME RIGHT IN THE END AND WE WILL AVOID RELEGATION.
mossman
Clueless management will take us down. We have players with much more quality than most in the division but Dean Shambles does not have a clue who are the best players or which system to play both before and within a game.
The most worrying is that he thinks the answer is to get a 6' 13" forward from the PREM to get on the end of Ward's, Johnson's or Foley' s big kicks or perhaps O'haras dream balls.
I would have hoped he could have developed in training a system of passing the ball to Blake or Doyle to score.
Dreidel
What quality are you talking about? Henry? Ward? Foley? O`haras why play thru the striker when I can have a go from 60 yards???
Mark B
Have not watched Wolves this season says something, so commenting on the situation means what.
Need to get some fight from somewhere and for more than 30 minutes when it comes.
All the best for the game this afternoon, thats if any of the above care to watch
bilodave
We are second bottom with nine games left and our home form is abysmal I don't think they need to have seen us this season to comment on that , do you?
BEOWULF
Kenny now works for the Premier League, reviewing the performances of the referees, therefore the only way he can watch Wolves would be if they were still in the Premier League.
DAVEL
what we would give to have some of you in our once great team now.
Joe 90
Could someone please name the players on the photograph ? I can only recognise, Gray, Richards, Eves Carr, and Hibbitt.
jimmy paige
There is a caption under the photograph on my webpage.....
Last night – back row, Geoff Palmer, Andy Gray, George Berry, Colin Brazier, Norman Bell and Wayne Clarke with, front row, Richie Barker, Willie Carr, Mel Eves, John Richards and Kenny Hibbitt at the Copthorne Hotel
gold and black blood
sorry but am i missing something here ITS UNDER THE PHOTOGRAPH
but does this help !!!!
back row, Geoff Palmer, Andy Gray, George Berry, Colin Brazier, Norman Bell and Wayne Clarke with, front row, Richie Barker, Willie Carr, Mel Eves, John Richards and Kenny Hibbitt
initowinit
look at bottom of photo list of all players
disgruntleddingle
Maybe you need some new glasses Joe90 - all of the players are named beneath the photo :)
Todd Nash
Nothing wrong with his eyesight disgruntled... I saw Joe's comment and realised that something must have gone wrong with the caption. Blame me!
Jack ♣ Hat.
Joe 90,
Watch it mate, there is a daft dingle having a go at fans asking that question. He hasn't the brains to realise the names were added after your posts.
BOING~~~~BOING~~~~J♣H.
Ghost of Doog
This is part of the problem with the crowd, we have a whole generation of fans Who have never known Wolves to be successful. They are so frustrated by continually watching a team seemingly not bothered about success because it doesn't matter to them. I can assure them that it matters to the thousands who pay their wages. Wolves are fast approaching the point where the younger fans will simply not turn up and only the masochists who only enjoy moaning on a Saturday afternoon will be there. Wolves are very close to becoming a lower league team without ambition and will be one of the 'living In the past brigade' of clubs and it is very, very sad.
I am a supporter whom remembers the halcyon days of European football and winning cups and I am very dissatisfied with the present regime. I really despair for the future of my great club.
pip
Last night – back row, Geoff Palmer, Andy Gray, George Berry, Colin Brazier, Norman Bell and Wayne Clarke with, front row, Richie Barker, Willie Carr, Mel Eves, John Richards and Kenny Hibbitt at the Copthorne Hotel
Big big monkey man
I did not renew my season ticket after our 1st successful year staying in the premiership 3 years ago why? Because of moxey he is not a footballing man and after his 'pie and a pint' offer I had enough.when moxey leaves I will return to watch my beloved wolves...all those fan who support moxey with your 'we are not in debt he runs the club well financially' erm say that next year when we are in division 1!!! It will ruin us moxey should have gone 2 years ago or had someone above him who is a football man
spanish ray
Jonh doe,I agree with what you say except for the fact that Morgan is not playing a waiting game he just doesn`t give a dam.He talks the talk but is not prepared to fight the fight.I`m not joking when I liken him to the Bhatti Brothers all those years ago.Until he and Moxey are gone this club will always struggle whatever division they play in.I too have been a supporter for over 50yrs. and never thought I would see what`s happening at the club again,but,unfortunately it is.
LPorter
To accuse people - players or administrators - of not caring because they have been unsuccessful is not usually either fair or true. Yes, the fact that Moxey's 50% pay cut leaves him with only £1 million to get by on is eye watering - but is more a comment on the distorted values in the game and in society at large than a reason for claiming that JM doesn't care. On balance, he's been a highly successful administrator and seems to have dealt well, financially speaking, with transfers. The problem has been a lack of footballing judgement within the club, not a lack of care or motivation. The Fable Of Four Poor Managers, from the continued support of an MM who was clearly failing, to the present incumbent (who could make himself a few quid as a headless chicken impersonator) would be shocking even if it was fictional. What is needed in terms of football direction - i.e. a Director of Football - is so obvious that fans are fed up of saying it. Mr Morgan's footballing judgement (pretty well zero) is in inverse proportion to his power (pretty well 100%) and that's truly worrying. But to claim that the M's and the players don't care is pointless and almost certainly wrong. What's more, it makes matters worse by making the players' fear of failure even stronger than before. BTW, I'm also a sad old git, 63 years old, who has supported Wolves since before the Boer War - but I hope I'm not a cynical SOG! Just a worried one...
chris h
L Porter, Same age,but I only go back to the war in Korea. I think you totally underestimate the role and influence of our Chief Executive. His role in deciding who we buy and sell is pivotal.Managers identify main transfer targets,and when we compete with other clubs,time and again we have missed out on key targets.We don't need to name them,because you like all Wolves fans know who these players are.The reason we miss out by and large is due to Moxey trying to squeeze the last penny out of a deal and the better players go elsewhere.We then end up with players that nobody else wants .Then we wonder why these players don't perform and why we cannot sell them on.There have been some exceptions like Fletcher,but these very much are the exception rather than the rule.If Moxey had managed to sign a decent number of Mick McCarthy's main transfer targets we would still be in the Premier.The money was available, the football club made over £31m profit during the years we were in the Premier.We are where we are because of poor executive management.
Cudgie
Cov, MK here we come! thanks a bunch Moxey
wolvesforever
Good to see the lads together again! As a Wolves supporter have been to four finals and have yet to see them lose. Those days seem a long off memory now.
The major mistake at Molineux was not getting rid of MM in that window where everyone knew we were going nowhere in the Premier, long before that disastrous loss to Albion, but unfortunately Morgan missed that opportunity and now we are all paying the price.
Clear the decks, start again, get some pride back into the club and players that fight for the shirt - and look at a three to five year plan . . . . I am off to watch the rugby now and players who play with true passion and pride . . . come on England
chris h
Seems to me mate it was the Welsh boys who had the pride and the passion.I also fail to understand why people say the big mistake was not sacking Mick McCarthy earlier.Look at the evidence, we have been awful since he was sacked.They made a mess of replacing him.Why do you think they would have done any better if they had replaced him earlier.All that would have done is bring the misery on even sooner.The problem at Wolves is lack of ambition from the owner and chief executive to build us a decent football team.Since McCarthy has gone they have been net sellers of footballers not buyers.They would not have given any new manager enough funds to turn things round. Why do think Curbishley wouldn't come,when he said he didn't share the Board's plans for the future of the football club.They would have done better if they had kept McCarthy, since I am sure he would have kept us in the Championship this season.It is no good sacking somebody,unless you find a better replacement.
jojo
And England played worse than Wolves. Totally out played in all departments.
BEOWULF
Back Row; Geoff Palmer, Andy Gray, George Berry, Colin Brazier, Norman Bell, Wayne Clarke.
Front Row; Richie Barker, Willie Carr, Mel Eves, John Richards, Kenny Hibbitt.
essington wolf
it makes me laugh that the great john richards still gets stick for having no sell on clause when robbie keane was sold.
ok it was a mistake but it doesnt compare with the mistakes morgan and moxey have made over the last 2 years.
the list is never ending.
give me a football man over a money man every day of the week.
by the way i was at wembley in 1980 and the team of today are not fit to lace the boots of the cup winning team,perhaps the current team should be shown the dvd of the final and they might learn how to battle with a bit of blood and sweat instead of going through the motion in games and just lying down to die.
AucklandKiwiWolf
Fans may talk about that team but two years later we were relegated to the old Second Division.That team had a lot of 'old' players which told on them the season after and key players were not replaced,Sounds familiar!
pedantic
norman bell and wayne clark were not in the squad.
bradshaw
palmer
parkin
berry
hughes
daniel
hibbitt
carr
gray
richards
eves
sub: brazier.
of course everyone could not attend, but for wonoh here is a fact, 30/5/79 forest were crowned european(champions league)winners were beaten by wolves march 1980.
Millwall Wolf
How come George still manages to look so sharp? :-)
twg
After watching Acadamy tean against Spurs do it the Cullis way and get most of them in the first team