Souness talks on next move

Graeme Souness was today holding talks with the mystery "Second Man" in his consortium to discuss their next move in the Molineux takeover battle, writes Martin Swain.

The 53-year-old Scot listened intently on the phone as I read to him in detail today's statement from Wolves - his first hearing in full of the formal media release from Molineux rejecting his bid for power.

Souness, who had been contacted earlier by Wolves to be told of the rejection, then commented: "I cannot say anything at this stage, but I will be talking to my partner to discuss whether or not to release a statement."

Souness has protected his main partner's identity so far, other than to reveal he is a UK businessman of substance - a claim not disputed by the Molineux hierarchy.

But the big question now will be whether Souness walks away from his interest in Molineux or begins a high-stakes poker game for control of the club.

Chief executive Jez Moxey insists that Wolves are already in confidential negotiations with other parties at a level beyond the £20m offer Souness committed in writing at the end of last week's wrangling over what had actually transpired between the club and the Liverpool legend.

And all the signals last week were that the £20m bid, which had been prompted by Sir Jack Hayward's comments when he called a local radio station to respond to criticism from fans, represented a 'take it or leave it' offer.

That suggests the Souness camp are unlikely to enter a bidding war - and instead will play a waiting game to see if anything materialises from talks with other parties referred to in the Wolves statement.

Souness, who wants the chance to lead the club from the boardroom and insists he has no designs on team management, is ambitious for a return to the game's big stage after re-charging his batteries following last year's bitter exit from his last job at Newcastle.

There are other clubs on his radar but the one-time League and European Cup winner made it clear that Wolves' heritage and potential were a big attraction in assembling his consortium.