Shi in the market for players who want to be 'legends of the club'

TL;DR

Wolverhampton's executive chairman Nathan Shi emphasizes the need for players who aspire to be 'legends of the club' as they prepare for the Championship. He aims to attract talent that views Wolves as a long-term commitment rather than a stepping stone to bigger clubs.

Key points

Wolverhampton prepares for Championship after 2017-18 season
Nathan Shi emphasizes player commitment to the club
Focus on attracting players who want to be legends
Concerns about players using Wolves as a stepping stone
Ambition is key to player recruitment strategy

WolverhamptonManchester CityManchester United

As Wolves prepare for life in the Championship for the first time since 2017-18, there will naturally be questions surrounding the club's approach to player recruitment.

In a fans forum this week, executive chairman Nathan Shi was asked about the type of players the club should be looking to retain and attract.

He answered: "When the club doesn't have a clear ambition about where it wants to be, how can you require and demand the players to show their pride?

"I don't want the players to view Wolves as just one stop in their career, so if they play well we give them to Manchester City or Manchester United. If they don't play well, we can still sell them elsewhere.

"I want to have more players that belong with the club in their mind. They should try to be legends of the club. They should be proud to be with the club.

"That will also be a very important criteria when we recruit new players. We need to make this an exciting project, so that we can really be attractive to the players we want.

"We have full support from the shareholders. I cannot tell you about the money they are going to spend because I don't want to look weak on the bargain table this summer. We don't want every club trying to squeeze more money from us."

Current head coach Rob Edwards also weighed in on the same topic - and he was adamant he doesn't want to convince anyone to come to Molineux.

He explained: "We want leadership. We want people to want to be here.

"Ultimately, we are going to try to keep the players that we think are capable, and can handle it mentally and technically. These are all things that you're going to need going into a really difficult season.

"There are five or six key ones [players] that we've had a lot of conversations with and we are working on. But, I will say this as well, they have got to want it.

"If I'm having to work too hard, I'm convincing someone that isn't right for us - and I think that's really important to say. I've experienced that before.

Q&A

What does Nathan Shi mean by wanting players to be 'legends of the club'?

Nathan Shi wants players who are committed to Wolverhampton and aspire to leave a lasting legacy, rather than seeing the club as a temporary stop in their careers.

How is Wolverhampton planning to approach player recruitment in the Championship?

Wolverhampton plans to focus on attracting players who share the club's ambitions and are willing to invest in their future at the club, especially as they face life in the Championship.

What concerns did Nathan Shi express about player loyalty at Wolverhampton?

Nathan Shi expressed concerns that without a clear ambition, players might not feel pride in representing Wolves and may view it merely as a stepping stone to larger clubs like Manchester City or Manchester United.