Wolves staff lose free season tickets in club policy change
Hundreds of staff at Wolves will no longer receive free season tickets following a change of policy at the club.
Matchday workers and backroom staff at Molineux and the club's Compton Park training ground had previously received tickets to all home games but the privilege has now been revoked – prompting dismay from staff, many of whom have worked at Wolves for years.
Season tickets now cost around £500 and staff saw the perk as effectively being part of their wage.
Full-time staff members had two season tickets and part-time staff had one.
With Wolves likely to play more matches next season owing to being in the Europa League, staff are said to be very unhappy with the decision.
It is believed the decision was made with the huge rise in demand for tickets in mind. Several thousand supporters are on a season-ticket waiting list and spare seats at Molineux are becoming a rarity with the team performing so well.
Wolves are preparing to kick-off their second consecutive season in the Premier League and will also be embarking on their first European campaign for nearly 40 years.
It comes as Wolves managing director Laurie Dalrymple exited Molineux in a shock move this week.
The Express & Star understands the sacking was due to a breakdown in the relationship between him and the club’s board.
Staff have been offered the chance to buy a season ticket, and jump the waiting list queue. But the change has not gone down well with everybody, including some programme sellers who have been watching Wolves for free for years.
One said he felt "under-appreciated" now Wolves were flying high in the Premier League. Around 10 programme sellers, who are paid for the role and are no longer directly employed by the club, received the benefit last season.
The club is understood to be of the view that free tickets have been given to staff as a gesture of good will but that the offer could be rescinded at any point.
One programme seller, who asked to remain anonymous, said: "Our rewards were fine before. We would have a few pounds in our pocket and get to watch the match.
"We give up our match days when others are with their friends in the pubs. Now it feels the genuine Wolves folk who do this every match day are being penalised. With all prices across the club rising, we feel a little under-appreciated and now certainly far worse off for our efforts."
Wolves declined to comment.
