Freddy Eastwood's brief and unsuccessful spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers is set to end this summer after the Wales international was made available for transfer.

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy said the 24-year-old striker, whom he signed from Southend United for £1.5 million just last July, had not fitted in at Molineux.

Eastwood, who scored four times in 35 appearances this season, 23 of which were as a substitute, is a firm favourite with the Wolves fans, who have repeatedly chanted for his introduction from the bench. However, McCarthy does not bow down to fans' pressure and Eastwood's departure was almost inevitable.

McCarthy said: "I've had a discussion with Freddy and he is available for transfer. It's nothing personal, it's just not worked out how either I or Freddy would have liked.

"I thought he would fit into my team but he hasn't. He's not for me and maybe I'm not for him. He wants to play and he'll do well somewhere else and we wish him good luck."

As for the rest of his squad, McCarthy has delivered a stern 'hands off' warning to any club that tries to poach one of his promising youngsters.

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey, wingers Michael Kightly and Matt Jarvis and striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake have become hot properties and there were fears after Wanderer's unsuccessful bid for the play-offs that they may decide to pursue their Premier League dream elsewhere. But McCarthy, who met the squad yesterday before departing on the summer break, said his young stars were committed to the club.

"The nucleus of the squad will remain," he promised. "We are all disappointed we didn't get into the play-offs but we realise we have got a fantastic squad of players here that will be better for the experience. I'm extremely confident we will keep them.

"I've had discussions with one or two and told them I feel it is better for their development that they stay here.

"I had a chat with Wayne. He wanted to thank me for having shown confidence in him. His view is that he wants to play week in, week out. He's our first-choice keeper and he wants to develop here.

"He didn't come into my office thinking 'I've had one good season here and now I want to be off'. We talked about Richard Wright when he went to Arsenal (after doing well at Ipswich). If you have a good year in the Championship, it doesn't mean you are going to go to the Premiership and set the world on fire. You need to be more battle-hardened.

"If we are sitting here in 12 months' time in the same position, then the likes of Wayne, Sylvan and Kightly might have a different view on it but as far as I'm aware, there is no issue. This is a good place to work, they enjoy it here."

Wanderers chief executive Jez Moxey reiterated McCarthy's desire to keep hold of his young assets. He said: "Wayne, Sylvan and Michael have all said off their own bat, not because the club asked them to, that they are happy here and that is really encouraging."