Seyi Olofinjana feels it is important to check on Wolves’ loan players during the season to ensure their development is on track. The 38-year-old, who has worked in the Wolves Academy since 2015, has been given the role of loans manager at Molineux, with 24 players enjoying temporary spells away from the West Midlands outfit last season.
The former Wolves midfielder, who made 147 appearances in gold and black between 2004 and 2008, feels that the way the club is progressing so quickly means youth stars will inevitably have to spend more time away from home. “The growth within the football club has been very rapid, especially in the last 12 to 18 months, and as a club, as an Academy, we need to adapt to that growth,” he told the club’s official website.
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“We understand the football industry is such that not every player will play for their parent club; some need that development initially to go out to a different club, a different environment, and learn their trade there.”
Olofinjana and his staff make regular visits to the various outposts that the Wolves starlets are attached to and the former Nigeria international, who also enjoyed spells with Stoke, Hull City, Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday, believes it is vital to monitor the youngsters.
“We’ve had 24 players out on loan during the second half of the season – which is a lot – but we couldn’t just leave them too it and then see where they are at when they come back; someone needs to be making sure they have all the things they need,” he added. “We’re not just sending them there and saying goodbye, we’re going to monitor them, we’re going to support them through the process and we’re going to help them develop.”
