Fan column: Proactive approach needed for Wolves revival

I’ve had the misfortune to witness every Wolves’ relegation season since the Second World War and this one takes a lot of stomaching.

Only the filleting of the club during the Bhatti nightmare elicits more anger and disappointment. And even then, operating on the proverbial shoestring, Wolves somehow conjured up more winning performances than the starvation rations we have just endured.

The vast number of empty seats against Fulham sent the mind spinning back to our first post-war fall from grace in 1964-65. The last game of the season against Liverpool who fielded 11 reserves as they had an FA Cup final to play just days later.

Their boss Bill Shankly apologised pre-match to the paying public of Wolverhampton for having to play his Central League outfit, not that it mattered, Liverpool cruised home 3-1 in front of less than 14,000 apathetic spectators.

Molineux resembled a morgue that night, Stan Cullis had left six months earlier and morale was at rock-bottom. But within two seasons, a reinvigorated Wolves won promotion laying the foundations for an exciting period in the early 1970s before that too was allowed to prematurely fizzle out.

If Wolves are to return within two years this time around and sustain any appreciable improvement, a whole lot more proactive and innovative governance will be needed in stark contrast to the ruinous policies that have created such mountainous resentment.

Their obligation is clear and should they falter, they will rapidly discover that any remaining reserves of patience have long been exhausted.

Earlier in the week it was a delight to catch up with Peter Knowles who was a member of that Wolves’ team beaten by Liverpool back in the 1960s . Courteous and engaging as always, he remains wholly at ease with his decision to leave football and re-focus his personal priorities.

He faced criticism and some ridicule at the time but his integrity and commitment could never be questioned.

He was a supremely talented, instinctive footballer in the process of unveiling the full extent of his considerable range of skills when left the game at the age of 24.

Not for the first time, I reminded him that I wished he had stayed at Molineux; but Peter carries not a scintilla of regret. He’s played an absolute blinder.