Vokes: I'm here for the long haul

Wolves' new boy Sam Vokes insists there is no clause in his deal to 'fast-track' him to the Premier League if he fails to win promotion in his first season at Molineux.

The 18-year-old signed a four-year contract after joining from crisis club Bournemouth for an undisclosed fee yesterday.

Vokes had been expected to join a Premier League club, with Newcastle and Villa having watched him closely, so the move to Wolves came as some surprise. But the Welsh under-21 international has pledged his long term future to Wolves.

"There's no clause in my deal," said Vokes. "With the four years I've signed for, it shows some security, and hopefully I'll be able to prove myself.

"This is a massive club with a great fanbase which deserves to be in the Premier League. Hopefully in the next couple of seasons we can push on and get there."

Lymington-born Vokes has lived in the Bournemouth area all his life and was accompanied by his family members at Molineux yesterday.

The youngster admits leaving home is going to be a wrench.

"It's going to be hard to move," he said. "All my family came up yesterday to help house hunting but it's all part of it.

"It's good I've got pre-season to sort things out and when I come back from my holidays I'll be fresh and ready to go.

"The family are staying down there but I'm sure they'll be up and down the motorway to visit and watch games."

Boss Mick McCarthy has no doubts Vokes will be a success, however, after snapping up the latest 'young and hungry' signing.

"I've been very impressed with him and I think he's quite capable of doing well in this league despite his tender years," he said.

"Sam is a great young talent who our scouts have been watching for some time.

"I saw him when he played for the Welsh under-21s against England last week and he was excellent.

"He's a target man who's physical, strong and good in the air. He was involved in a real scrap in trying to keep Bournemouth up at the end of the season.

"It was tough, but will have been a good experience for such a young player."