Wolves boss Mick McCarthy today dismissed suggestions that the club’s £40m plans to redevelop Molineux are heaping pressure on him and the players.

Chairman Steve Morgan is due to ‘press the button’ on the project to transform Wolves’ historic home into a potential 50,000-capacity venue in January.

The plans hinge on Wolves retaining Premier League status, something the club’s hierarchy felt highly confident of given the £18m summer spend on new players, and when they spoke of the ambitious development at the end of last season.

But with Wolves second bottom and five points from safety with a third of the season gone, the campaign isn’t going to plan at the moment.

McCarthy however in-sisted he feels no extra pressure, despite knowing the timing of the initial three-sided stadium redevelopment depends on improved fortunes on the pitch.

“That (redevelopment plans) is not adding any more pressure, not at all,” said the boss.

“The pressure to stay in the Premier League is there irrespective.I want to be in the Premier League because I’m a Premier League manager and I don’t want that to change.The players are the same.”

Wolves have lost eight of their last 10 Premier League games but McCarthy is convinced their plight is not as bad as this time last season.

“We certainly don’t look as bad as we did at this time last year,” he said.

“Then we looked like we were going to get well beaten.”

By Tim Nash