2013–14 Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. season explained

The 2013–14 season was the 115th season of competitive league football in the history of English football club Wolverhampton Wanderers. The club competed in League One, the third tier of the English football system for the first time since 1988–89. The previous season had brought relegation for a second successive season.

Former Millwall manager Kenny Jackett was appointed as Wolves' new head coach in the close season,^[1] replacing Dean Saunders who was fired after overseeing their relegation.^[2]

The team achieved promotion back to the Championship with four games to spare, setting a new club record points tally for a season in the process.^[3] Their third title at this level was confirmed on 21 April as the team went on to create a new record points amount for the third tier, reaching 103 points.

Season review

After a second consecutive relegation and four different managers during the previous sixteen months, Kenny Jackett, who had resigned from Millwall weeks earlier, was appointed on 31 May 2013 in the newly titled role of head coach.^[1] When pre-season training began on 24 June, Jackett announced that four key first team players – Karl Henry, Stephen Ward, Jamie O’Hara and Roger Johnson – were all now transfer-listed^[4] and that he intended to make greater usage of the club's academy players.^[5] In addition to the transfer listed players, further key players such as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Stephen Hunt and Christophe Berra did not have their contracts renewed as the club sought to reduce their salary commitments.^[6] Only three new signings were made during the summer transfer window: free signing Sam Ricketts, who became club captain,^[7] as well as Kevin McDonald and Scott Golbourne from Sheffield United and Barnsley, respectively.^{[8] [9]}

Wolves' first fixture in the third tier since 1989 was a goalless draw at Preston.^[10] This was followed by five consecutive league wins to bring the team into the automatic promotion places and earn Jackett a nomination for August's Manager of the Month Award.^[11] Despite their unbeaten league run being ended by local rivals Walsall, a run of eleven unbeaten matches brought them to the top of the table by mid-November.

The following seven matches brought only one victory though, and by early January both Leyton Orient and Brentford stood above Wolves with further games in hand.^[12] Wolves sought to strength their squad and recruited five players during the January transfer window - two being loan deals of James Henry and Michael Jacobs being made into permanent signings. Strikers Leigh Griffiths and Kevin Doyle (on loan) were both allowed to leave,^{[13] [14]} with two former players, Nouha Dicko and Leon Clarke being bought as replacements.^{[15] [16]} With this new squad, the team recorded a club record nine straight victories - including a 3–0 success at promotion rivals Brentford - to return to the top of the table. Although suffering a final defeat of the campaign at Crawley in mid-March, on 12 April, promotion was secured with a 2–0 win at Crewe Alexandra that ensured the club's exit from League One after a solitary season.^[3] After two further wins, they were confirmed as champions after Brentford failed to beat MK Dons hours after Wolves had won at Leyton Orient, who had led the table for much of the early part of the season.^[17]

A final day win that relegated Carlisle ensured that Wolves set a new points record for the third tier as they reached 103 points.^[18] En route to the title, the team also set numerous new club records, including a new points record (surpassing the 92 points they set when last in the third tier)^[19] and a record nine consecutive wins, as well as equalling their previous best run of five consecutive away wins. At the conclusion of the season, Kenny Jackett was joint-winner of the LMA Awards Manager of the Year for League One,^[20] having earlier won the monthly award for March 2014.^[21]

Results

League One

See also: 2013–14 Football League One. A total of 24 teams competed in League One in the 2013–14 season. Each team played every other team twice, once at their stadium, and once at the opposition's. Three points were awarded to teams for each win, one point per draw, and none for defeats.

The provisional fixture list was released on 19 June 2013^[22] with the exception of the club's opening fixture, which was announced one day earlier having been selected as part of The Football League's 125th anniversary.^[23]

Final table

Results summary

Results by round

FA Cup

See also: 2013–14 FA Cup.

League Cup

See also: 2013–14 Football League Cup.

Football League Trophy

See also: 2013–14 Football League Trophy.

Players

Statistics

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Awards

Award	Winner[24]
Fans' Player of the Season	Kevin McDonald
Players' Player of the Season	Kevin McDonald
Young Player of the Season	Jack Price
Academy Player of the Season	Declan Weeks
Goal of the Season	Michael Jacobs (vs Brentford, 22 February 2014)

Transfers

In

Date	Player	From	Fee
July 2013		St. Kevin's Boys	Free
July 2013		Chelsea	Free
July 2013		Esbjerg fB	Free
4 July 2013		Bolton Wanderers	Free[25]
15 July 2013		Barcelona	Free
14 August 2013		Sheffield United	£750,000
30 August 2013		Barnsley	£700,000
3 January 2014		Millwall	£250,000[26]
8 January 2014		Derby County	£200,000[27]
13 January 2014		Wigan Athletic	£300,000
30 January 2014		Coventry City	£750,000
31 January 2014		Wycombe Wanderers	£45,000[28]
31 January 2014		Atletico Arad	Free

Out

Date	Player	To	Fee
June 2013	Jody Craddock	Retired	–[29]
June 2013	Christophe Berra	Released	Free
June 2013	Josh Cooke	Released	Free
June 2013	Aljaž Cotman	Released	Free
June 2013	Dominic Dell	Released	Free
June 2013	Sylvan Ebanks-Blake	Released	Free
June 2013	Johnny Gorman	Released	Free[30]
June 2013	Stephen Hunt	Released	Free
June 2013	Luke Ifil	Released	Free
June 2013	Cieron Keane	Released	Free
June 2013	Jake Kempton	Released	Free
June 2013	Gary O'Neill	Released	Free
June 2013	Sam Winnall	Released	Free
24 June 2013	Adam Hammill	Huddersfield Town	£750,000[31]
3 July 2013	Dorus de Vries	Nottingham Forest	Free[32]
12 July 2013	Eggert Jónsson	Released	Free[33]
23 July 2013	Karl Henry	Queens Park Rangers	£1,000,000[34]
1 January 2014	Patrick Antelmi	Wigan Athletic	Free
31 January 2014	Wayne Hennessey	Crystal Palace	£3,000,000[35]
31 January 2014	Leigh Griffiths	Celtic	£2,000,000

Loans in

Date	Player	From	End Date
1 October 2013			1 January 2014[36]
11 November 2013			4 January 2014[37]

Loans out

Date	Player	To	End Date
6 August 2013			End of season[38]
16 August 2013			End of season[39]
21 August 2013			17 November 2013[40]
27 August 2013			End of season[41]
2 September 2013			End of season[42]
2 September 2013			1 January 2014
16 September 2013			2 January 2014[43]
11 October 2013			6 December 2013[44]
18 October 2013	Dave Moli		End of season
28 November 2013			2 January 2014[45]
6 January 2014			End of season[46]
8 January 2014			End of season[47]
10 January 2014			End of season[48]
24 January 2014			27 April 2014[49]
25 January 2014			28 April 2014[50]
31 January 2014			End of season
31 January 2014			31 December 2014[51]
27 February 2014			31 March 2014[52]
18 March 2014			18 April 2014[53]
27 March 2014	Bradley Reid		End of season[54]

Management and coaching staff

Position	Name
Head coach	Kenny Jackett
Assistant head coach	Joe Gallen
Development coach	Steve Weaver
First Team Fitness and Conditioning coach	Tony Daley
Goalkeeping coach	Pat Mountain
Head of Football Development and Recruitment	Kevin Thelwell
Head of Recruitment	Stuart Webber
Assistant Academy Manager / Under-18's coach	Mick Halsall
Club Doctor	Dr Matthew Perry
Club Physio	Phil Hayward

Kit

The season brought both new home and away kits manufactured by new supplier PUMA, who had previously worked with Wolves during the 1990s.^[55] The new home kit featured the club's traditional gold and black colours, while the away kit was all purple with white trimming.^[56] Both shirts featured new sponsor What House?, a property company that had agreed a two-year deal with the football club.^[57]

Notes and References

1. News: Kenny Jackett: Wolves name ex-Millwall boss as head coach. BBC Sport. 31 May 2013.
2. News: Dean Saunders sacked after relegation to League One. BBC Sport. 7 May 2013.
3. News: Crewe 0–2 Wolves. BBC Sport. 12 April 2014.
4. News: Four players transfer listed. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 24 June 2013. 3 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200240/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/four-players-transfer-listed-240613-877235.aspx. 29 October 2013. dead. dmy-all.
5. News: The Potential of Youth. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 26 June 2013. 3 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140618095331/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/the-potential-of-youth-260613-881188.aspx. 18 June 2014. dead. dmy-all.
6. News: Wolves: Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Stephen Hunt released . BBC Sport. 17 May 2013.
7. News: Sam Ricketts named Wolves captain in move. Express & Star. 4 July 2013.
8. News: Kevin McDonald: Wolves sign midfielder from Sheffield United. BBC Sport. 14 August 2013.
9. News: Scott Golbourne: Wolves sign Barnsley full-back. BBC Sport. 30 August 2013.
10. News: Preston 0–0 Wolves . BBC Sport . 3 August 2013.
11. News: Kenny Jackett up for manager of the month award. Express & Star. 5 September 2013.
12. News: English League One 2013-2014 : Table. Statto.com. 11 January 2014.
13. Web site: Wolves striker Griffiths joins Celtic. BBC Sport. 31 January 2014.
14. News: QPR sign Kevin Doyle from Wolves. BBC Sport. 31 January 2014.
15. Web site: Wolves sign Nouha Dicko from Wigan Athletic. 13 January 2014. BBC Sport.
16. Web site: Leon Clarke re-signs for Wolves from Coventry. BBC Sport . 30 January 2014.
17. News: Wolves crowned League One Champions. Express & Star. 22 April 2014.
18. News: Wolves 3–0 Carlisle. BBC Sport . 3 May 2014.
19. News: Wolves lift the League One trophy. Express & Star. 4 May 2014.
20. News: LMA Managers of the Year announced. The Football League. 13 May 2014. 3 July 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183237/http://www.football-league.co.uk/latestnews/20140513/lma-managers-of-the-year-announced_2293301_3828771. 14 July 2014. dead. dmy-all.
21. News: Kenny Jackett named Sky Bet League 1 Manager of the Month . The Football League . 4 April 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140413202407/http://www.football-league.co.uk/league1/news/20140404/kenny-jackett-named-sky-bet-league-1-manager-of-the-month_2293324_3746968 . 13 April 2014 .
22. News: League One fixtures . BBC Sport. 19 June 2013.
23. News: League announces anniversary fixtures . The Football League . 18 June 2013 . 6 August 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130723135806/http://www.fl125.co.uk/news/125-anniversary-fixtures . 23 July 2013 . dead .
24. News: Macca at the double. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 8 May 2014. 8 May 2014. https://archive.today/20140508141546/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/kevin-mcdonald-080514-1542752.aspx. 8 May 2014. dead. dmy-all.
25. News: Sam Ricketts: Wolves sign Bolton Wanderers' Welsh defender. BBC Sport. 4 July 2013.
26. News: Exciting times for Henry. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 3 January 2014. 3 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140103170956/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/exciting-times-for-henry-030114-1271983.aspx. 3 January 2014. dead. dmy-all.
27. News: Michael Jacobs joins Wolves from Derby. BBC Sport. 8 January 2014.
28. Web site: Wolves sign Wycombe's Kortney Hause. BBC Sport. 31 January 2014.
29. News: Craddock testimonial confirmed. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 17 May 2013. 1 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130712065715/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/craddock-testimonial-confirmed-170513-825876.aspx. 12 July 2013. dead. dmy-all.
30. News: The next generation. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 18 June 2013. 1 July 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130622000340/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/the-next-generation-180613-870538.aspx. 22 June 2013. dead. dmy-all.
31. News: Huddersfield Town: Jon Stead and Adam Hammill sign up. BBC Sport. 25 June 2013.
32. News: Dorus De Vries: Nottingham Forest sign Wolves keeper. BBC Sport. 3 July 2013.
33. News: Wolves: Eggert Jonsson has contract cancelled at Molineux. BBC Sport. 12 July 2013.
34. News: Karl Henry: Queens Park Rangers sign Wolves midfielder. BBC Sport. 23 July 2013.
35. News: Wolves' Wayne Hennessey joins Palace. BBC Sport. 31 January 2014.
36. News: James Henry: Wolves' Kenny Jackett brings in Millwall loan man. BBC Sport. 1 October 2013.
37. News: Michael Jacobs: Derby County midfielder signs for Wolves on loan. BBC Sport. 11 November 2013.
38. News: Tonga Doumbia has left Wolves and returned to France. Sky Sports. 7 August 2013.
39. Web site: Stephen Ward joins Brighton as Gordon Greer signs new deal. 16 August 2013. BBC Sport.
40. Web site: Wayne Hennessey: Wolves keeper cleared for Yeovil Town loan. 21 August 2013. BBC Sport.
41. News: Wolves winger Razak Boukari to join Sochaux on season-long loan. Sky Sports. 27 August 2013.
42. News: Wolves duo Georg Margreitter and Jamie Reckord have both left on loan. Sky Sports. 2 September 2013.
43. News: Sheffield Wednesday: Roger Johnson signs from Wolves. BBC Sport. 16 September 2013.
44. News: Liam McAlinden: Shrewsbury Town sign Wolves striker on loan. BBC Sport. 11 October 2013.
45. News: York City sign keeper Aaron McCarey from Wolves. BBC Sport. 28 November 2013.
46. News: West Ham sign defender Roger Johnson from Wolves on loan. BBC Sport. 6 January 2014.
47. News: Zeli Ismail joins Burton from Wolves. BBC Sport. 8 January 2014.
48. News: Cheltenham: Wolves' Ihiekwe joins and Vincent stays. BBC Sport. 10 January 2014.
49. News: Wolves' Jake Cassidy rejoins Tranmere Rovers. BBC Sport. 24 January 2014.
50. News: Swindon sign Jamie Reckord from Wolves. BBC Sport. 25 January 2014.
51. News: Molde sign Bjorn Sigurdarson from Wolves. BBC Sport. 31 January 2014.
52. News: Kevin Foley: Blackpool agree one-month loan for Wolves defender. BBC Sport. 27 February 2014.
53. News: Dominic Iorfa: Wolves defender joins Shrewsbury Town on loan. BBC Sport. 18 March 2014.
54. News: Wolves' Bradley Reid rejoins Wrexham until end of season. BBC Sport. 27 March 2014.
55. News: Wolves sign with Puma. 14 March 2013. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140504023132/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/wolves-sign-with-puma-140313-712980.aspx?pageView=full#anchored. 4 May 2014. dead.
56. News: Revealed: New Puma replica kits. 23 April 2013. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131224110248/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/revealed-new-puma-replica-kits-230413-787705.aspx?pageView=full#anchored. 24 December 2013. dead.
57. News: Wolves sign What House? as main sponsor. 10 April 2013. Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 May 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131224175750/http://www.wolves.co.uk/news/article/wolves-sign-what-house-as-main-sponsor-763413.aspx?pageView=full#anchored. 24 December 2013. dead. dmy-all.