Wolves keep Category One academy status after facility concerns | OneFootball

Wolves have retained Category One academy status for 2026/27 after a threat of downgrade, with approval granted this week subject to facility upgrades being completed.

According to ExpressAndStar.com, the club held talks with the Professional Game Academy Audit Company and the Men's Professional Game Committee after concerns over pitches, classrooms and changing rooms. The deterioration came under former chairman Jeff Shi, and the new chairman, Nathan Shi, and the leadership are understood to view the academy as essential and to be committed to ongoing investment. Coaching, education, sports science, medical provision and player care were not flagged, yet a drop to Category Two remained possible.

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

Planning permission for that £10million project has been lodged, with completion targeted by summer 2027. The decision is conditional on the proposed additions being delivered.

Remaining at Category One keeps Wolves in the highest band, preserves Premier League funding levels, maintains access to higher tiers of youth development and avoids the tighter geographic recruitment limits applied to Category Two academies.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com