From expansion hopes to safety fears, Molineux back in focus | OneFootball

Molineux faces serious scrutiny after Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 1-1 draw with Sunderland was disrupted when a piece of metal fell from the South Bank roof, leaving a supporter with minor injuries and forcing a partial evacuation.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the club had previously offered assurances over inspections and repairs, yet the latest incident has heightened concern among fans and reignited debate over the stadium’s condition.

Redevelopment arguments stretch back decades. A 1958 plan for 70,000 was rejected, and the John Ireland Stand, now the Steve Bull Stand, opened in 1979 as phase one, but the wider rebuild stalled as finances strained.

After the Bradford City fire in 1985, safety rules closed ageing ends, Wolverhampton Council stepped in, and Sir Jack Hayward’s 1990 takeover delivered an all-seater rebuild by 1993. Three stands were new, but the Steve Bull Stand remained, leaving an imbalance.

The North Bank was upgraded in 2011 to 2012, initially presented as the start of a broader plan. Relegation in 2012 halted progress. Fosun’s 2019 blueprint to reach about 46,000, centred on replacing the Steve Bull Stand, was paused during the pandemic as focus shifted to smaller and corporate projects.

With relegation to the Championship confirmed and attendances falling, a full expansion looks unlikely soon. Limited work on the Steve Bull Stand appears more realistic. In December, then chairman Jeff Shi said a rebuild project was ongoing and sought greater council support, but Councillor Stephen Simkins said the delay lay with the club. Shi stepped down two days later.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com