Richard Stearman in line for new Wolves deal
Wolves defender Richard Stearman is set to be offered a new deal, boss Kenny Jackett confirmed for the first time today.
The head coach has now followed a positive hint that Dave Edwards would be offered fresh terms by declaring Stearman the other high profile player out of contract - will too.
Jackett said any contract talks to senior players are on hold until Wolves know which division they will be in.
But after an excellent season where the 26-year-old has formed part of the second tightest defence in all four divisions behind Chelsea, Jackett now says the former Leicester stopper will be offered a new deal.
Rest assured we rate Richard Stearman and we see him as having a future at the club, said the boss, who was at Bramall Lane last night to see Wolves move to within a maximum four points from promotion after Sheffield United beat Rotherham 1-0.
Were very pleased with him and Im sure talks will go well.
Its not something were going to talk about right now in terms of contracts, but I dont select someone that many times and work as hard as we have defensively to get such a good goals -against record to then release him thats not going to be the case.
We like Richard and Ive picked him pretty much all season.
Hes enjoyed a really good partnership with Danny Batth and I see him as having a good future here.
Apart from his first season at Molineux when Wolves won the Championship title in 2008-09 and under Terry Connor in the Premier League relegation campaign, Stearman has found it difficult to get regular games in his favourite position of centre-back.
But Jackett has played him there all season apart from Bradford away and believes his best role is in the heart of the defence, even though he had a successful spell on loan at Ipswich at right-back last term.
Ive found him to be (a better centre-back) so far, said the boss.
Ipswich kept 10 clean sheets in 15 games, going from the relegation places to almost make the play-offs in the last third of the season.
He played right-back then and hes variable enough to do that but Id prefer him at centre-back - thats where he looks most comfortable.
But right-back is a very strong position for us.
Brentfords 1-0 win against Crawley moved the Bees to within three points of Wolves.