Fan column: Wolves in turmoil as fan discontent grows

The discontent has festered with increasing intensity until on Sunday it degenerated into acrimonious turmoil. The spectacle of your head coach sharing an animated slanging match with a group of your own supporters with both parties in a venomous rage was not endearing to say the least. 

The schism was becoming increasingly inevitable and for now it appears that our executive chairman as he did with Gary O’Neil, will vacillate hoping against credulity that this mess, for which he shoulders considerable responsibility, will miraculously be remedied. 

But history has generally been unkind to anyone subject to a confidence motion. I’ve witnessed every managerial departure and every relegation this club has endured since the Second World War and the patterns of decline remain essentially similar. 

The rot gradually sets in then intensifies to such a degree that nothing will alleviate the inexorable drift towards failure. 

Chances to arrest the decline are frittered away; Wolves have squandered five priceless points after late concessions in three of our last four matches. Fine margins; but judged as impotence and an inability to translate desire into fulfilment. 

The last two calamitous results from self-styled ‘must win’ matches and the tipping point is reached; cue aggressive resentment, abuse and bitter recrimination. 

Over the years, the worst part of following this club has been the occasions when the fans have turned inwards and directed their bile on those we assumed shared our aspirations. Players such as Alan Hinton, Alan Boswell, Mark Kennedy and Keith Andrews have been mercilessly barracked and ridiculed invariably for no good reason. 

And seared in my memory is the vision of manager Graham Turner walking off at half-time. Wolves were trailing and as I watched from the North Bank, a tirade of grotesque personal abuse was heaped upon Turner causing him to momentarily stop and facially express his shock and disgust. 

He had delivered two promotions; this venom directed because he could not deliver a third. He left the club shortly afterwards. 

Sunday’s discord was similar; confidence in the manager evaporating, his selections and tactics being questioned, dull monotonous football the staple diet and worst of all, an endless string of dire results. 

Throw in total exasperation with the owners and the demons are let loose. No good will come of this.