Wolves takeover key questions

Chief Sports Writer

assesses the state of play in Graeme Souness' proposed takeover at Molineux.

* Is Graeme Souness going to be the new Wolves owner?

Oh that it were that simple. Last night's developments have certainly returned Souness to the position where he remains a strong runner but the Scot is still a long way away from getting his hands on the keys to Sir Jack's Golden Palace.

For a start, there are other players arriving at the table waiting to be dealt a hand. Wolves have already started preliminary talks with one other consortium which has the potential to out-bid Souness and, perhaps more significantly, make an even stronger case to Sir Jack that they should be trusted with the future of his club.

And winning that argument will be a key factor in determining the identity of the next owners.

As well as that, the Express & Star is in contact with one other credible football figure who is adamant that he has the city-based investors who would comfortably meet the buy-out price - and the vision to satisfy Sir Jack's demands that his successors will take Wolves forward.

At the moment this group are at the crucial point in talks over taking their plan to another club - not Leicester City I hasten to add - but that will reach decision time this weekend.

If they fail in that project, they will be straight on to join the bidding for Wolves.

Souness, then, has competition but at the moment, that competition is staying in the shadows. It may be that their interest doesn't materialise in the form of a written offer.

The fact that Souness broke cover in the first place and was then content to accept a climb-down by responding to Jez Moxey's demands for at least a written offer, tells us he is not going to go away easily.

While other potential partners may be circling the floor, preening themselves and telling us how light on their feet they are, the only man dancing with Wolves at the moment is a tough, uncompromising and still hugely-ambitious Scot.

* Will it mean the end at Molineux for Sir Jack - and Jez Moxey?

The pair cannot go on ad infinitum and a Souness takeover would certainly bring an end to Moxey's reign as the Chief Executive.

Sir Jack's role as Life President will not be affected and he will have the freedom on the corridors for the remainder of his lifetime but the days when a phonecall from the Bahamas had everyone standing to attention at Molineux are rapidly drawing to an end.

Sir Jack, now in his 84th year, has been looking for a way out since he realised Premiership football was not the end of the journey but the start of whole new set of demands on his pocket.

Moxey has taken the flak for a lot down the years and was hung out to dry by Souness's decision to utilise public pressure to force the club to this point instead of staying 'mum' - which is the tactic Moxey thought was in place.

A lot of his critics maintain that Moxey has been a stumbling block to a sale for too long in the way that any turkey would not vote for Christmas.

He will beg to differ - and point out that, at the start of any such talks with interested parties, his opening gambit is to make it clear he does not expect to be in a job if and when power changes hands.

His motivations and decision-making have had the complete and total trust of Sir Jack.

* How is he funding the deal?

The main investor is, says Souness, a serious figure in the business world and I understand that the identity of "The Second Man" is one of the strongest factors of this particular takeover plan.

Wolves are content that the money and the credibility is there.

Other partners further in the background but mentioned in Souness's statement will be more peripheral figures while the man himself has made it clear that he will be investing a chunk of his own fortune, stockpiled from more nthan 30 years at the highest levels of the game, in the deal.

It is The Second Man, however, who is the key player in terms of financing the deal and his identity remains one of the most fascinating issues in the proposal.

* What will Souness be getting for his money?

The club, Molineux and the training ground's fixtures and fittings - but not the land on which it all sits.

That remains on long-term lease protected from development other than for the purposes of sport.

But there has long been a theory that any serious investor would be able to get the council around the table to change that ancient covenant if a major development was planned.

What he is also getting, to use that dreadful American jargon, is the Wolves franchise - its history, traditions, fan base and potential once again to be a serious football force. That is something which does not come around frequently.

Everything you ever hear about Souness confirms one thing - he is as passionate football man as they come.

The exit from Newcastle stung and he does not intend for that bitter experience to be his epitaph as a football personality.

Having played and managed, and suffered at the decisions and whims of people above him in both roles, he now wants the power to do what he thinks is right and decide his destiny. That undoubtedly is an exciting prospect.

But that's the sentimental view. Let's not forget that at the end of this season, a new Premiership media deal kicks in which has got the football world in a frenzy - that's why so many investors are scrambling around the market.

The chance to use all that media money to fund a drive for success which will ultimately raise the value of the club is undoubtedly what appeals to the less romantic of his partners.

* How long will this all take?

That's the big question and Wolves fans should strap themselves down for a long haul - I don't think there will be any rush from Sir Jack and the detail of the take over makes the negotiations enormously complex.

At the same time, Wolves will be more than happy to see what other offers come in now that Souness has - somewhat crudely - barged his way through the door and got the ball rolling.

This is likely to take months - and anyone expecting an impact on Wolves this season would be guilty of high optimism.