Wolves defend hunt for manager as Connor named

Wolves chiefs on Friday defended their decision to axe Mick McCarthy after a protracted search for a replacement ended with assistant Terry Connor being given the job until the end of the season.

Since McCarthy's dismissal earlier this month, a host of big-name candidates had been linked to the vacancy at Molineux, with Alan Curbishley and Walter Smith both rejecting overtures for the position.

However the hunt reached its conclusion on Friday when Wolves chairman Steve Morgan said Connor would lead the club's fight against relegation over the remaining 13 games of the season.

"This is a very important appointment and this is not one you can make on a knee-jerk response," Morgan said.

"We have seen a number of people, nowhere near the amount of people that has been in the media.

"We went through the process and narrowed it down and it became clear from the way the players were responding to Terry that he was the right man."

Morgan insisted the club had been right to dump McCarthy following a 5-1 home reverse against West Bromwich Albion in the Black Country derby.

"Mick has done a fantastic job at this club. Each season that I've been here working with Mick, Mick has taken this club forward.

"This season it was different. The decision we had to take after the West Brom game was: was it right to continue the way we were going or was it right to make a change? Of course I'm convinced it was the right thing to do."

Connor will be in charge for the remaining 13 games in the season starting with the league match at Newcastle on Saturday.

Wolves are currently third from bottom of the Premier League, just two points clear of bottom side Wigan

Former Leeds, Brighton and Portsmouth striker Connor has been at the club for 13 years and served under four different managers.

The coach admitted he had seen a dip in form after McCarthy's dismissal but was confident the squad would bounce back.

"I saw a downturn amongst the lads when Mick initially left for two or three days," he said. "I'm sure some of the players will have regrets about results and Mick losing his job.

"But they are the most honest bunch of lads you would wish to meet. If they've made mistakes, they've made honest mistakes.

"By the end of last week I saw signs of an upturn. They then had a few days off to reflect on things, came back in on Monday and were more like their usual selves."