Jones focuses on taking Wolves into Premiership

New Wolves boss Dave Jones has vowed to put behind him the most traumatic 12 months of his life and make a quick return to the Premiership.

The former Southampton chief was confirmed as the successor to Colin Lee at Molineux less than a month after being cleared of all child abuse charges against him.

His first match will be Sunday's FA Cup third round clash with Nottingham Forest at Molineux. Jones is now looking firmly into a future in which he envisages taking his new club back into the top-flight after a 17-year absence.

He said: "If the players want to be in the Premiership they can stay. If they don't, they can leave.

"It is the best league in the world and the place where all managers want to be. Players should think that as well. With hard work and good players, we will get there."

And Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey was adamant his club had finally found the right man after unsuccessful spells with Lee and his immediate predecessors.

"Appointing Dave was a unanimous decision by the board after a very thorough search. We had over 50 applicants, but Dave is a man with Premiership credentials," Moxey said.

Jones brushed over the events surrounding his departure from The Dell, the south-coast club having initially given him 12 months' leave to fight the allegations then quietly edging in Glenn Hoddle as his full-time replacement.

And Jones, who had previously taken unfashionable Stockport into the First Division and the Worthington Cup semi-finals, insisted he intended to remain at Molineux for a long time.

"Someone said that this could be a stepping stone for me if I win promotion but there aren't many bigger clubs than Wolves in the country and they would be hanging from the rafters here if we went up.

"I want to build Wolves into a force that will reach the Premiership and stay there, I want to bring back the good times.

"I will be as hungry as the supporters and, if Sir Jack Hayward is impatient to see Premiership football, he will probably find me even more impatient."

Jones, who has signed a three-and-a-half year contract, insists he has an open mind on his backroom team.

He has been linked with a possible move for Saints reserve coach Dennis Rofe but will give a chance to the present staff to impress.

"John Ward and the others here have not done badly at all and they will play a big part in picking the team for the FA cup tie at Nottingham Forest on Sunday," Jones added.