Wolves boss Kenny Jackett concedes bad planning partly to blame

Boss Kenny Jackett admits 'bad planning' contributed to Wolves' poor season – and that faith in some of the club's youngsters may have been misplaced.

Wolves fell well short of their stated target of finishing in the play-offs this season.

And the Molineux hierarchy earned criticism for failing to directly replace the departed Bakary Sako and Benik Afobe.

Jackett conceded that some bad planning – as well an horrendous injury record – had led to shortages both up front and on the left flank.

"It's bad luck and bad planning, a bit of both," he told the Express & Star.

"Some of that has been things we should have seen, some things that we couldn't have done anything about.

"I feel we (now) need to address the imbalance in the squad.

"We need to address that during the summer and that's very important for us."

At times Wolves fielded a notably young XI, particularly in defence, while only David Edwards and the injured Mike Williamson are aged 30 or over.

At the start of the campaign Jackett took a host of youngsters – Declan Weeks, Connor Ronan, Bright Enobakhare, Aaron Hayden, Jon Flatt, Harry Burgoyne, Sylvain Deslandes and Donovan Wilson – with the first team for their pre-season trip to France. And he admitted it was unrealistic for them to be part of a top six Championship squad.

"We have to take responsibility and say we should have read things, maybe some faith in some young players that hasn't quite materialised as well, in terms of them being ready," he added.

"That's not to say they won't be ready in the future.

"Going away on pre-season tour last year, if I'm looking at the names that went on that tour, was that realistic for us to get into the top six of the Championship? No.

"There were injuries at that time and some unsettled situations last summer.

"We have to make sure that over the summer we get a very strong squad, a well balanced squad and a realistic squad for the division.

"We have to keep them fit through pre-season and as battle-hardened and as ready as we can, and then be mindful that we won't have the emergency window next season."

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