Breen backing young leaders
Gary Breen has challenged the emerging leaders in the "young and hungry" Wolves pack to lead the team to another promotion push next season.
Wolves' leading lights are a string of highly-rated players in their early 20s including Wayne Hennessey, Kevin Foley, George Elokobi, Michael Kightly and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake.
At 34, Breen, fellow defender Jody Craddock (32) and 33-year-old Michael Gray are the few examples of lengthy experience in Mick McCarthy's youthful squad.
Molineux captain Breen and Craddock are both out of contract this summer and their futures remain unclear, with the debriefing of the entire squad getting under way this week.
McCarthy is expected to oversee several ins and outs in response to this season's failure to reach the play-offs.
But the emphasis will definitely be on strengthening with the fresh funds provided by new owner-chairman Steve Morgan.
"We don't need any more 34-year-olds in the team, that's for sure," said Breen.
"There are young players here who are leaders themselves – Sylvan Ebanks-Blake is one and there are quite a few of them. But that needs to come out and I'm sure it will do after a season like this. It's up to them to take on that mantle."
As Breen reflected on Wolves' failed bid for the play-offs, the former Sunderland stopper concluded that the race for the promotion wasn't lost in the final few weeks – but in mid-winter. McCarthy's side failed to win a Championship game between December 4 and January 19.