Terry Connor: My time has come
New Wolves boss Terry Connor today revealed his time had come as a manager, declaring: "I'm ready".
New Wolves boss Terry Connor today revealed his time had come as a manager, declaring: "I'm ready".
Connor's appointment until the end of the season has surprised and even angered fans, frustrated at the messy selection process of finding Mick McCarthy's successor.
But the 49-year-old, who has been at Wolves for 13 years and completed his manager's course and UEFA pro licence, said he is ready for the challenge of the hot-seat for the first time, although McCarthy's dismissal meant he wished it could have happened under different circumstances. "I feel like I'm ready to manage," said Connor.
"Circumstances have come around in a way I wouldn't have wished but, I feel if I'm ever going to do it, my time is now.
"I feel ready, positive and upbeat about the whole thing. I've worked hard for this opportunity and I've experienced a lot of things.
"I've done my coaching badges and been on management courses, so I've prepared myself and I'm ready to do it."
Connor revealed he will remain a 'tracksuit manager', however.
"First and foremost, I always feel happiest out on the training ground when I'm working with all the players," he said.
"But you gain more experience and learn, and having been under four managers here learning from them, that's why I say I'm ready now.
"Having worked under Glenn Hoddle, who was England boss, and Mick McCarthy for five-and-a-half years, and we're as close as can be, you pick up things and see how to handle certain situations.
"I just feel that having had all that experience and being given the opportunity now, I feel like I'm ready to do it."
But the long-serving coach said nothing will shift him from his prime focus of preparing players on the training pitches.
"The most important thing is having your players ready to play and if that means I don't speak to the media, that's what will happen," said Connor.
"I will not take my eye off that because out there working with the players is where I perceive my strengths to be. If I have to have someone else doing the bits and pieces for me, I'll do that.
"At 10.30am, I'm going to be out there. It's something of the utmost importance and I'll leave whatever I'm doing."