Wolves put talks on hold

McCarthy: Players playing for their futures

Wolves manager Mick McCarthy says all player contract talks are on hold until the club's future is confirmed.

The Molineux outfit are currently battling to retain their Premier League status with six league fixtures remaining in the schedule.

Wolves suffered a demoralising 3-0 home defeat to Everton at the weekend, a result which kept them second from bottom in the table.

McCarthy's side are only one point behind fourth-from-bottom Blackpool and an upturn in form could still see them stay up.

The likes of David Jones, Marcus Hahnemann and Jody Craddock are all out of contract, but McCarthy wants their focus to be on matters on the pitch.

McCarthy says the added incentive of staying up should give the players the drive to win the necessary points as it could win them better deals.

Focus

"We don't know our own future yet. We haven't discussed contracts and we are not going to," he told the Birmingham Mail.

"There are six games to go. Our focus and everybody's should be on getting the points that keep us in this league.

"Nothing else. That's mine, that's the players, everybody's.

"And do you know what? When we stay in the league everybody is in a better position, a better place, to do better.

"So let's make sure that happens then we can all crack on."

No gripe

"There are six games to go. Our focus and everybody's should be on getting the points that keeps us in this league."
Mick McCarthy Quotes of the week

Striker Kevin Doyle's knee injury has hindered Wolves' attempts to stay up and McCarthy is not expecting him back anytime soon.

Doyle says he wants to feature in Republic of Ireland's end of season internationals and McCarthy has no problem with him playing if fit.

"I won't be happy if he doesn't play for us again but if he is fit to play he is fit to play," he continued.

"I've no gripe with that - you can't do anything about it.

"I'm not bouncing around with optimism that (Doyle's injury) would be four weeks because I have had medial ligament trouble myself and I know what it's like."