Wolves keep Category One academy status after facilities scare | OneFootball

Wolves have kept their Category One academy status for 2026/27 after a threat of downgrade.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the club held ongoing talks with the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) and the Men's Professional Game Committee (MPGC) following concerns over facilities and infrastructure around pitches, classrooms and changing rooms.

The quality of coaching, education, sports science, medical support and player care was not questioned, yet the academy still faced the possibility of being moved to Category Two.

In response, Wolves committed £700,000 to meet dressing-room and classroom space requirements for the coming season, and also ring-fenced £10 million for a longer-term plan to protect top-tier status.

Planning permission has been submitted for that £10 million project, with completion targeted by the summer of 2027.

The governing bodies’ decision this week is conditional on the proposed facility upgrades being delivered.

The academy’s decline came under former chairman Jeff Shi. It is understood new chairman Nathan Shi and the leadership team view the academy as central and remain committed to continued investment.

Staying at Category One keeps Wolves in the highest band, avoids reduced Premier League funding, preserves access to higher tiers of youth development and prevents the tighter geographic limits applied at Category Two.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com