Premier League - Wolves sack McCarthy after derby drubbing
Wolverhampton Wanderers have announced that manager Mick McCarthy has been sacked.
McCarthy's position was made untenable by a 5-1 home defeat to rivals West Bromwich Albion on Sunday - a result that was greeted with fury by the home fans inside Molineux at the final whistle.
Some fans vented their anger towards the directors box during the game and a couple of hundred demonstrated outside the ground long after the final whistle.
The defeat was just the latest defeat in a woeful run that has seen the Midlands club drop into the bottom three, and the Wolves board felt compelled to act with the club's Premier League status in jeopardy.
A club statement confirmed: "The board took the difficult decision to terminate Mick's contract after a run of form which has seen Wolves pick up only 14 points in the last 22 League games, after a promising start to the season, culminating in yesterday's 5-1 defeat at home to West Bromwich Albion.
"Terry Connor will take charge of team training in the interim until a new manager is appointed.
"The board would like to place on record their sincere thanks and appreciation to Mick McCarthy and he leaves with the very best wishes of everyone connected to the club."
McCarthy was appointed as Glenn Hoddle's replacement at Molineux in July 2006 and led them to the Championship title in 2009, securing Premier League football in the process.
However, this season he has been the subject of continual criticism by disaffected Wolves fans and a run of four consecutive home defeats has resulted in his departure.
He said following Saturday's defeat: "I would think it was one of the most disappointing afternoons of my career.
"I apologise for the performance and I've never done that before. But the way we capitulated in the last half-hour is not associated with my teams."
Former Charlton and West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is the third favourite to take the job with some bookmakers and has wasted little time in saying he would be happy to discuss the role.
"If I get the phone call then obviously I would talk to them," Curbishley told Sky Sports News.
"I have always said I want to get back into the Premier League. My record stands up, it's just I have been out of the game for some time."
Curbishley left West Ham in September 2008 and has worked as a media pundit in the intervening years.
Comment 403 - 422 of 422
No 422 scottbellingham. Absolutely spot on mate - been saying this for weeks but they all seem blind to the fact that Mick bought us into the prem. Nothing has improved since the championship days and I for one am not happy with that.
wolves,isn't that a kids school team,iv'e heard of them somewhere.
mick is a top bloke no doubt about that, but three years in the premiership and relegation struggles every year tell's you something, i still think wolves will survive and come out strong after this, the sad think if they do, is why a drubbing by the team most wolves supporters hate the most, spend some money wolves what's the point of having a first rate stadium and playing championship football
MM is a good bloke who put to much faith in certain players ie WH in goal ,made great saves then let in soft goals, not good enough for premier also Berra. you have to be solid in mid defence and build on that MM didn't
John Moran Tue 14 Feb
I am sorry, but as much as I appreciate MM getting us into the Premiership I completely disagree that he was the man to keep us up, 14 points from 22 games is not a good return considering that we will need at least 17-19 points in order to survive from 13 games. This is pretty easy math. Sunday's match was massive and not just because it was against our local rivals. We made West Brom look like a top four side with inept tactics. 29 shots on our goal and this is the manager that will keep us up. One clean sheet all season is not good enough. Swansea have had 9 clean sheets and play good football. This is despite getting promoted via the play-offs and hardly spending a dime. This is down to good management and the realisation that at this level clean sheets mean points. Sort out your defence first, become hard to beat and you survive. Concede goals every game and there is only one way you are going and that is down. I wish MM all the best and know that he will find more success at another club and undoubtedly get them promoted, but it was time to go.
@#420
I am sure If your board invest money to improve the squad, you will see better football. The problem as I see it the board wants the manager to perform magic without spending any money on players, well they better appoint Paul Daniels as the next manager!
Not Unknown, comment 409, True. He was pushed to the edge and made feel not at home, but not sacked. The bottom line is the owners and managers get carried away and then get bitten back.. Another example is Middlesbrough who were an average team but playing entertaining football and going to EPL and back to championship like a belly dancer's dip, then they sacked Southgate to never make it to EPL anymore.
It is OK for fans of other clubs to say it is wrong to sack MM or how honest he is. but they are not the fans who turn up at every home match and watch some of the worse football you can wish to see.
The reason McCarthy's sacking was inevitable was clear to see on Sunday in the match against West Brom. The Baggies looked like a real Premiership team whereas the Wolves looked like a Championship team playing above itself which had been found out. The whole Wolves team on display was the result of McCarthy's buying policy over the last 3 years where instead of going for skilful ball-playing footballers he went for the ones that, to use his own phrase, could "put a shift in". He also constantly made illogical team selection decisions;for instance, the team's only proper left back, George Elokobi, was sent out on loan in the February window and cannot be recalled before the end of the season, so if the present incumbent, Stephen Ward (who is actually a CENTRE FORWARD) , gets injured there is NO replacement. Is that good management-I think not. The ironic part is that if Wolves had sacked a different manager then MM would be high on the list of replacements as a safe pair of hands.
I am a Wolves fan and must say that he did a lot of good things for Wolves but I'm afraid his regime had just run out of steam, as so many do, and it was time for a change but, having said that, .I do wish him well for the future.
Gordon Gekko 413. Maybe so but listen to what he says. Always honest and occasional humourous. Now, Alan Shearer really is boring
bye bye wolves once again.....i wonder how many years itll take you to get back to where you are now.
big mistake by wolves,fergie rates mick,and like it or not fergie is nobodys fool,wolves and wigan are going, going,gone.most wolves players would not get in the top champions team
History repeating itself.. Wolves get in to the Premier League with a good manager. Re; Dave Jones..Give them Buttons to spend, then expect the world., The old adage is you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. MM you will still be a good manager wherever you go. I just hope wherever it is? That they give you the financial backing to win something & not have to struggle & juggle with tight purse strings.
No doubt he will soon be back on TV - The most irritating drone since the vuvuzela.
I dare someone to nominate him for the England Managers job. lol
I think this is quite a shame. But that said, i really don't believe Wolves will be relegated...
I just wonder who will take the job? Fabio?
If anyone says, 'Why the long face Mick' ?, there'll be trouble !
401. O'neill didn't get sacked. He resigned over some transfers.
good...lets hope that i dont hear that awful droning bloody accent again
It really is simple, poor old Mick did not have the players, they are mostly Div 1 standard, and I say MOSTLY.
But as always, its the coach that bears the brunt, He is a gentleman and I wish him the best for the reast of his career.
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