When Life In The Dug-Out Becomes A Struggle

These are trying times for a number of former Wolves men on whom we keep a close eye in their current off-field positions elsewhere.

While Vitor Pereira continues to enjoy a successful start at Molineux, the week has brought the end for Rob Edwards at Luton and Julen Lopetegui at West Ham – and one or two others are in need of an upturn in results over or soon after FA Cup third-round weekend.

Darren Ferguson, who made his Wolves debut in a 2-0 home win over Crystal Palace 31 years ago next week, is the one whose present predicament is the most surprising.

Whenever he has been managing Peterborough in the third tier, they have been very much challenging for promotion and even the title.

Now, though, they are down in 19th position and with their FA Cup journey ended by a third-round defeat at Everton on Thursday.

The Scot has led the club to no fewer than three promotions and Doncaster to one but exiting the division by the other end is more of a concern at present.

Ferguson Snr was alongside Posh’s director of football Barry Fry in the directors’ box at the New Year’s Day draw away to Burton. 

It was the only game in the last six in which the side have avoided defeat in a run of eight losses out of 12.

Another left-footed midfielder from Graham Turner’s Wolves side, Paul Cook, is having a happier time of it in the dug-out at Chesterfield.

But even he isn’t as happy as he was when his side went into Christmas with a run of four straight victories behind them. They have lost three games in a row since and stand tenth in League Two following last season’s runaway National League title triumph.

No such mixed feelings for Nuno at Nottingham Forest, of course, and Blackburn – with Keith Downing assisting head coach John Eustace – are still punching above their weight while sitting seventh in the Championship table and toasting a Cup win at Middlesbrough today.

But Carlisle, where Mike Williamson succeeded another former Wolves man, Paul Simpson, in the autumn, are bottom of the pile in League Two, six points beneath the safety line.