Glenn Hoddle reckons it could be pre-season time at Wolverh ampton Wanderers before the dust finally settles on his team's 'disaster' of a campaign.
After getting the green light to carry on by the Molineux board, in the face of opposition from some Wolves fans, Hoddle now has to pick up the pieces by rebuilding for a renewed promotion push next season on a reduced budget. Although his first task is to settle the immediate future of the eight Wolves players whose contracts are due to expire, Hoddle admits it is hard to plan when there are still so many imponderables to add to the equation.
Wolves have now lost the two stars of their only previous successful assault on the Premiership, Celtic-bound free agent Kenny Miller and the now-retired George Ndah.
The on-loan Jeremie Aliadiere has also gone, having returned to Arsenal and there could be more departures if Jackie McNamara follows Miller back to Parkhead, Joleon Lescott makes his expected big-money move to Everton and the disaffected Seol Ki-Hyeon opts to move.
Knowing whether he might have extra money to top up a fighting fund badly affected by the loss of Wolves' parachute payments could affect how
quickly, and at what level, Hoddle starts making his summer moves. But the immediate task is to assess whether to offer new deals to skipper Paul Ince, vice-captain Mark Kennedy, fellow midfielders Denes Rosa, Colin Cameron, and Darren Anderton, goal-keeper Stefan Postma, striker Vio Ganea and utility defender Maurice Ross.
"Players out of contract is a priority," said Hoddle. "That will be done as soon as possible, a matter of days rather than weeks.
"But, while in any squad you need a balance of youth and experience, it depends on which players stay and go.
"In the cold light of day, it's going to be a different club. It's not going to be easy and while there's different ways we can work it, I don't think those answers will come about until pre-season time.
"Players have to be sorted out and recruitment has to be looked at at a different level than before and, as the summer unfolds, that will be evident. Given our financial situation, we might have to look at different types of player and I don't think we're going to be at the top end of the market.
"Certain players will be offered things and will turn things down, others will say 'yes' and others might move on but this is the beginning of the process and there are a lot of ifs and buts."
