Wolverhampton Wanderers midfielder Karl Henry has backed manager Mick McCarthy and the coaching staff at Molineux and has called for patience to allow McCarthy to develop his young squad.

Wolves just missed out on the play-off places on goal difference, despite their 1-0 win over Plymouth Argyle on Sunday and doubts have been cast over McCarthy's future. However, the club has repeatedly quashed rumours of his departure and Henry said it would be a backwards step if the former Republic of Ireland manager was sacked.

"Had the manager come in and signed older players who were coming towards the end of their careers on big money to get us promoted, then you could say 'fair enough, it's not worked and there's no future here'," he said.

"But the gaffer has clearly built a squad that's capable of being here in three, four, five years time and peaking. With the right mix of older players and younger ones and, no doubt, adding to it, I think he needs to be given the time to do that. The dressing room are very much behind him.

"We think he's the man for the job I'm 100 per cent happy and that applies to the rest of the lads as well.

"It's not just the gaffer but also the backroom staff. Terry Connor is a different class, the coaching staff, physios too I'm grateful for them for getting me back for this game. Everyone at the club is top-class and there are no complaints from any of the players.

"Everyone gets judged on results and whichever way you look at it, we've not made the play-offs.

Maybe that is why people want a change, but that's always going to happen. People think that success comes by freshening things up. I don't feel that's the way forward and it would be a terrible shame if the manager wasn't here. He's got the respect of everyone in the dressing room and no-one is even thinking about whether he should go. He's a great manager and he couldn't stop the last-minute goals we have conceded this season."

Henry said Wolves must add to the squad,and keep their promising young players, while he vowed they would mount a much stronger promotion challenge next season.

"Look at Sir Alex Ferguson, even when Manchester United win things, he looks to strengthen and we are no different," he said. "Every other team will be strengthening in the summer and it is important we do. The players will come back even more hungry to be successful next season. We need to build on this.

"The future of the club is definitely bright. The manager has signed young players while people like Michael Gray and Gary Breen have come in and they are all older heads, which has helped the young lads to develop.

"Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Michael Kightly, Matt Jarvis, Wayne Hennessey and Andy Keogh if we can keep all these young players, we will be stronger next season. If you look at the West Bromwich Albion squad, all their players are aged 25 to 29 and we have a lot of time on our side.

"We will be better equipped next season and will be a better team, but if you asked me if I am glad we didn't go up, then no. I think we would be a better team in the Premiership."

Henry left Stoke City for Wolves in the belief that the move would enhance his chances of playing in the Premier League, but he said he had no regrets after seeing the Potters gain promotion last Sunday.

"I don't regret leaving Stoke City at all, I have joined a far greater and bigger club than Stoke," he said. "I am 100 per cent happy here. I am very pleased to see them go up. I have a lot of friends there and I am pleased for them."