Jez Moxey believes Wolves “are just about on schedule” to appoint sacked manager Mick McCarthy’s successor in time for Saturday’s clash at Newcastle.
Chief executive Moxey confirmed that “second interviews” are to take place with certain candidates and Steve Bruce is now a clear favourite with the bookmakers.
He impressed when meeting Moxey and Wolves owner Steve Morgan on Friday.
But early favourite Alan Curbishley now appears to have slipped out of the running.
Moxey said: “What I can say is that I think we are about half-way through the process and it is going well.”
Gyan urged to make a U-turn
Asamoah Gyan has been urged by the Ghana FA to reconsider his decision to take a break from international football.
The 26-year-old Sunderland striker is unhappy at the “verbal abuse” that came his way during the recent African Cup.
“The Ghana FA has received a letter from striker Asamoah Gyan announcing his decision to take a temporary break from the Black Stars,” a statement read.
Gyan missed an early penalty, and a host of other chances, as eventual winners Zambia edged Ghana 1-0 earlier this month in the African Cup semi-finals.
Napoli plead with fans to behave
Napoli have issued a public plea to their own fans to behave when Chelsea are in town for the Champions League second round, first leg tomorrow.
Over the last 18 months some fans of opposition teams such as Man. City and Bayern Munich have been stabbed while visiting Naples to watch their team play.
“We strongly call on fans to respect the current norms in security matters in line with UEFA rules,” read a club statement.
“Norms that if violated would provoke a stadium ban and hence compromise other big international events here.”
Bayern mystified
Bayern Munich’s director of sport Christian Nerlinger admitted he was “mystified” by his team’s first-half performance in the goalless draw at bottom side Freiburg which saw them slip to third in the German league.
Even Bayern Munich coach Jupp Heynckes said Bayern’s performance in the opening 45 minutes was “sluggish” as the Bavarian giants came off second best to a spirited Freiburg team who are threatened with relegation.
“I’m mystified by this performance,” admitted Nerlinger.
“The first half in particular has left me very pensive.
“It seemed as though a few of the players haven’t grasped what’s at stake.”
Otto Rehhagel to Hertha’s rescue
Otto Rehhagel says he could not turn down Hertha Berlin when he was approached to become their new coach last week. He will take charge of the club today with a brief to save the team from relegation.
His last job in the Bundesliga dates back 12 years, but the 73-year-old said he would never have accepted the job if he did not feel he was still able to make a difference.
“When Hertha need help, then I don’t say no,” he said.
“I played my first ever Bundesliga game for Hertha in 1963 and I remember everything about it. And now I am back and Hertha simply must remain in the Bundesliga.”
McCoist happy with SFA probe
Rangers manager Ally McCoist says he welcomes the Scottish Football Association’s decision to hold an independent inquiry into the activities of the club.
In December, the SFA said it would investigate Craig Whyte after the Rangers owner admitted that he had previously been disqualified as a company director.
Now Rangers are in administration, the governing body says it is looking into “potential breaches of the SFA’s articles of association”.
“As manager of the club, I would welcome it because the amount of clarity that comes out on the whole issue is vital to everybody,” the Gers coach said.
“We want all the facts and figures and everything disclosed.”
A-League... a joke
The billionaire owner of struggling Gold Coast United, Clive Palmer, has labelled Australia’s A-League a joke and his club as “insignificant”, in comments to the media.
Palmer, a mining magnate who is listed as Australia’s fifth-richest man, derided football as a “hopeless game” and dared Football Federation Australia (FFA) to strip him of his Gold Coast owner’s licence.
“If we wanted to stay and they (FFA) wanted to take it off us, they’d all be in court, and (FFA chief executive) Ben Buckley would run a thousand miles,” Palmer said.
“That’s the reality of it. They can say what they like ... the A-League’s a joke.”