Wolverhampton Wanderers' supporters have reacted with anger and astonishment that Jez Moxey, the club's under-fire chief executive, was paid more than £500,000 last season.

Moxey has become a scapegoat for most disillusioned fans following Wolves' relegation from the Premiership last season and their dismal campaign in the Championship this term.

Many supporters blame Moxey, who took over as chief executive in June 2002, for not freeing up more funds to invest in new players when Dave Jones guided the club into the Premiership in 2003.

After waiting 19 years to return to the top flight, supporters expected the club to spend more and make a much better fist of staying there. They finished bottom on 33 points.

With Wolves languishing 13th in the Championship having blown their hopes of promotion, news that Moxey earned £ 504,675 - including bonuses - last season has not gone down well among supporters.

Steve Bishop, secretary of Cannock Wolves, said: "I would have guessed he was paid around £100,000 but for him to collect more than five times that amount is extraordinary.

"He is the person held responsible for pulling the plug on the finances when we reached the Premiership so to see he has been paid £500,000 rather sticks in the throat.

"The main objective is to establish the club in the Premiership and given the club have failed to do that it is astonishing the man responsible for that failure has been rewarded so lucratively. I think tension among supporters will increase now because if this news."

The figures show Moxey received a £200,000 increase last season and earned a promotion bonus, too, which has stunned many fans.

Nuneaton and district Wolves secretary Bob Andrew added: "I think this news is in pretty bad taste and is a bombshell to be honest.

"It certainly doesn't equate with the performances of the team this season which have been pretty dire.

"It is also annoying when supporters have just had to suffer 15 per cent increases in season-ticket prices for next season.

"If the team start next season badly and carry on the way things have been going then this news could have far-reaching consequences and people will call for Moxey's head."

Telford Wolves organiser Alan Jones said: "I was very surprised when I heard. It is hard to take when you think there was very little money when we needed it at the start of last season in the Premiership."

Despite criticisms of Moxey's salary, however, chairman Rick Hayward remains very supportive of his chief executive.

He said: "As I believe is the case with other football chief executives, Jez earns more with the team playing in the Premiership than outside it so anyone questioning his desire to keep the club in the Premier League would be way off the mark."