Kenny Jackett defends Wolves' Stearman sale

Wolves boss Kenny Jackett has defended the club's controversial decision to sell Richard Stearman, insisting: "I've got confidence in my players."

Fans have reacted angrily to the sale of last season's player of the year, who has moved to Wolves' Championship rivals Fulham for a fee of up to £2.5m.

Stearman had played every league game of 2015 until he was left out of Saturday's victory over Charlton, but no replacement was forthcoming or sourced before Tuesday's transfer deadline.

And Jackett backed the decision to let Stearman go, arguing that the club had to move forward.

"I feel we're well covered," Jackett told the Express & Star.

"It's a position we're strong in and we won't be looking to sign any players there.

"I've got confidence in the lads to do the job this season, they've got fantastic potential.

"I feel that centre back is a strong position for us, with Danny Batth just starting training now and Ethan Ebanks-Landell, Kortney Hause, Dominic Iorfa as well, who came through the ranks as a centre half.

"You could see against Charlton that Ethan and Kortney played very well and will only improve."

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Stearman joined Wolves in 2008 from Leicester City and made 234 appearances, scoring six goals.

He certainly had some ups and downs in that time, taking a while to win over the supporters and being allowed to go out on loan by previous manager Dean Saunders, but also being part of two promotion-winning sides.

And his consistent form in the past two years was one of the many reasons behind Wolves' success under Jackett.

And 82 per cent of supporters voted that selling him was the wrong decision, in an Express & Star poll.

The Wolves boss said he understood why the sale would cause some unrest.

But Jackett reiterated things 'can't stand still' and that it was the right decision at the right time to sell Stearman.

"I can see in terms of Richard, what he's done, because in the two years I've been here he's turned things round," Jackett added.

"He was allowed to leave before I was here, he went to Ipswich and did very well as a right back and then was part of the side (at Wolves) and part of the team going up.

"For the last two years he's been a good player for me and I do appreciate what he's done, I really do.

"We thank him very much, he's been a very good player for myself and the club.

"I do feel also you have to make decisions to move the club forward.

"We wish Richard all the best and hope things go well for him down at Fulham, I'm sure they will, he'll bring an enormous amount of professionalism and ability to the club

"But things can't stand still.

"We have to move on. We feel, and I feel, it's the right decision and the right time."

When then, were they not already in the team ahead of Stearman?

"That's before a bid comes in of a considerable amount," Jackett said.

"If it's a situation where he was here, fine, but when the bid comes in of millions of pounds, that does change the picture.

"For Richard he's been our captain, we do understand that, but we're very close to having our captain Danny Batth back as well in that same position.

"The thing that changed it was the bid and the size of the bid.

"Once you put that into the mix of the good young players we have and the strength in depth we have in that position we have to make some decisions.

"And I feel this is the right decision."

The Wolves boss added that Ebanks-Landell was 'ready' to step up and had been impressed with his performances in the recent games against Cardiff, Barnet and Charlton.

"He did very well against Kenwyne Jones down at Cardiff, then the Barnet game and then on Saturday when Igor Vetokele came on he did very well," Jackett said.

"It's a strong position for us and that's the reason we've decided to let Richard go.

"It leaves us with a lot of centre-backs at the club, and good ones as well.

"It's a show of faith in the young players, although they're not that young either.

"Ethan looks like he's ready, I've been very pleased with him. Kortney and Dominic are a bit behind in terms of their development but have a high number of league games and both impressed last season.

"There's good options there and centre half-wise we're very strong, it's an asset for us and a very strong position and I have got a lot of confidence in the players that are here.

"I've got confidence in every single one of them."