Fans of Wolverhampton Wanderers must be sick to death of being referred to as 'sleeping giants' or indeed continual references to the 'good old days' which are now nigh on 50 years in the past.

What Wolves needed more than ever was the beginning of a new era, one that could let them leave the past and move into a new and prosperous future. As a football fan who doesn't originate from the Midlands I can honestly say, with no deliberate hint of patronisation, that I hope the good times are about to return to a club that could definitely do with push in the right direction.

When Steve Morgan failed in his many attempts to secure the keys to his lifelong love, Liverpool, he turned his attentions elsewhere and for a whole variety of reasons he chose Wolves. The Molineux club have a very loyal and equally large following. They have the kind of support in both numbers and passion that a club like Sunderland has (although admittedly not in the 50,000 bracket Roy Keane has at his disposal). However, Wolves fans have stuck with them through thick and mainly thin times. Last season was a marked improvement and in Mick McCarthy, they have the kind of manager who can take Wolves back into the big-time.

McCarthy has in the last 12 months unearthed some hidden gems that have cost him very little but have served him very well. Talents such as Michael Kightly and Andy Keogh arrived for relatively small sums and have not looked back; imagine then what Mick can do with millions in the bank. Well, he could just lead them not just into the Premiership, but onto a road that secures them top-flight status for a prolonged period of time.

With no offence to the following clubs, Wolves are in most aspects a far bigger outfit than Blackburn, Bolton, Portsmouth and indeed Reading; however, all four finished in the top 10 of arguably the biggest league on the planet. So why, then, do Wolves find themselves in the Championship? Some would argue they have been up to this point mismanaged by a succession of coaches and money men. Or maybe they have just been unlucky? A number of false dawns have greeted the Wolves faithful; they could do with something to smile about, especially given the disaster that was their last visit to the Premiership (the win against Manchester United aside).

Wolves were one of the founder members of the Football League and it must rancour with their faithful to see Midlands rivals Birmingham return to the top tier to join equally hated (possibly even more so) Aston Villa. It must be like watching everyone else having a good time at a party that you weren't even aware of. As a football fan, I truly hope that by May 2008 they will receive their invitation in the post.