Wolves chairman Jeff Shi on Jorge Mendes criticism: 'I know every rule in the FA book'

The club’s well-publicised link with super-agent Mendes has again come under the spotlight, after promotion to the Premier League was confirmed last weekend.

Reports earlier this week claimed some clubs in the top flight want the league to scrutinise Wolves’ ownership structure.

Shi dismissed previous complaints from Championship rivals, including Leeds and Villa, as “laughable”.

In an interview with the BBC on Thursday, he said: "I don't know why they are thinking like this. Officially, legally, we passed all the owners' tests.

"I know every rule in the FA book. I think, totally, legally, there is not any problems.

"The other thing is how can you get help from your network or your friends? Some have friends who are agents, or know a player or a market very well or have some friends to help you.

“Jorge is good at judging a player and has given good advice about the best way to build a team.”

Mendes advised Fosun on their takeover of Wolves in 2016, seven months after the Chinese conglomerate bought a 20 per cent stake in his Gestifute agency.

Under Football Association rules, club owners are prohibited from holding an interest in agencies and agents are not allowed to have an influence on the running of a club.

Wolves - and Shi - maintain Mendes merely functions as an advisor.

Shi added: "Jorge is my friend. He knows a lot about the industry.

“Sometimes when you are new to an industry, you need someone to help you, to tell you what to do, to share their failures and success. I can get good advice from him."