Looking back at 2014: The year in sports

Wolves were able to seal promotion back to the championship while Albion escaped relegation and secured their top flight status in the Premier League.

Here are the Wolves and Albion stories that peaked your interest the most this year.

10. West Brom sweat over late Sherwood hitch

The Baggies were happy to allow Tim Sherwood to choose two of his own coaches with both Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey in line to join him at The Hawthorns.

But the former Tottenham man was believed to be holding out for better terms for the pair after agreeing a deal in principle on his own contract.

Baggies sources then insisted that other candidates remained in the background and after failing to agree terms with Sherwood, the job went to current boss Alan Irvine.

9. West Brom fans blast Alan Irvine appointment

The Scot got the nod ahead of hot favourite Tim Sherwood as Pepe Mel's successor at Albion.

However, the appointment was met with anger and surprise by Baggies fans. In an Express & Star poll, 84% of voters said he was not the right man for the job.

And at the time fans were posting pictures on Twitter of a banner at the gates of The Hawthorns calling for chairman Jeremy Peace to leave.

8. Wolves launch new home shirt for 2014/15 season

The Puma design marked a change from what fans have been used to in recent years - Wolves last adorned fully black sleeves in the late 1990s.

The shirt costs £42 for adults and £30 for juniors.

Head of commercial affairs Paul Lakin said: "Our fans have a very special connection with the club's home strip, and the world famous gold & black colours, so we're delighted Puma, a leading kit manufacturer, are once again producing both the home and away home kits and all the technical training kit, which is also very popular with our supporters."

7. Wolves set for double swoop on Sheffield United

Wolves were understood to have bid between £500,000 to £750,000 for £1m-rated midfielder Conor Coady, 21, who spent the 2013/14 season on loan at Bramall Lane from Liverpool.

And Molineux officials were also weighing up a £1m offer for centre-back Harry Maguire, who sources said wanted to move from his home city after failing to sign a new deal.

However, Wolves were unsuccessful in their pursuits for both players with Coady signing for Huddersfield Town and Maguire leaving the blades for Hull City in a deal worth around £3 million.

6. Wolves sign Scottish 'wonderkid' Jordan Allan

Record-breaking Jordan Allan, at 15 one of the bright hopes for the Scottish game, signed a four-year deal to continue his development at Molineux.

The Airdrie striker became the youngest player to feature in a British first-team match when he came on as a substitute at the age of 14 and 189 days in a Scottish League One fixture against Livingston in April.

And Jimmy Boyle, the manager who gave Allan the chance to make history last season, insists the teenage Scot has a bright future in the game.

5. Stephen Ward in limbo as Jamie O'Hara sparks fresh Wolves row

It was understood Brighton boss Sami Hyypia was keen to turn Stephen Ward's season-long loan into a permanent move after an impressive campaign at the Amex Stadium.

But the 28-year-old's chances of leaving Molineux for good were in the balance with Brighton unwilling to match the Ireland international's £13,000-a-week salary at Wolves. The south coast club are understood to have paid £10,000-a-week towards Ward's wages last season, with Wolves picking up the rest.

But despite attracting the biggest crowds in the Championship, Brighton aren't the biggest Championship payers and weren't willing to increase their outlay. Ward found a move in the end though, making a permanent move to Premier League club Burnley.

4. West Ham fans reject shirt from new signing Roger Johnson after cup rout

The Wolves misfit, who joined the Hammers on loan last season, endured a horror debut as Manchester City routed Sam Allardyce's side 6-0 in the League Cup semi-final.

Johnson and his new team-mates threw their shirts to fans in the away end after the game only for his to be returned to him.

He suffered similar embarrassment for Wolves when he tried and failed to give fans his shirt after the final game at Brighton in the 2012/13 season confirmed relegation to League One.

3. Chelsea midfielder George Saville has medical as Wolves chase deal

The 21-year-old was poised to move to Molineux after Wolves beat off competition from Middlesbrough.

Saville, aged 21, played a starring role on loan with Brentford last season as the Bees joined Wolves in winning promotion from League One to The Championship.

He previously played three games on loan for Millwall during current Wolves head coach Kenny Jackett's final months in charge at The Den and joined Wolves in the summer but has not been able to cement a regular starting spot.

2. West Bromwich Albion set to ditch blue and white stripes

Readers responded after Albion looked set to ditch their traditional blue and white stripes for the 2014/15 season in favour of a new 'pinstripe' shirt.

The shirt, which of course was later confirmed, is the biggest break with Hawthorns tradition since the Second World War and the first time since the 1990s that Albion have broken away from their normal 'even' stripes.

It was pictured way ahead of a PR launch in the summer, and details were leaked onto social media.

1. Wolves embroiled in Mario Balotelli storm

Twitter posters incorrectly alleged Mario Balotelli stamped or headbutted Wolves midfielder George Saville in a friendly game played at the Red's Melwood training ground on Merseyside.

A picture was posted on Twitter showing Saville appearing to hold his head, with Liverpool players Adam Lallana, Kolo Toure and Lucas Leiva surrounding Balotelli.

Wolves sources say there was a 50-50 challenge between the pair but that neither hit the ground and that the game, which Liverpool won 1-0, carried on.