Wolves: Trotters tapped up Connolly
Wolverhampton Wanderers agreed a deal of compensation of £400,000 (€430,000) that could rise to £1.25m (€1.35m) for the Monaghan-born player on transfer deadline day. The club declined an offer of full and frank settlement so they could pursue what they believe to be a breach of Premier League and FA rules over unapproved communication with, and an illegal approach for a player who was a scholar at the club’s academy.
Wolves chief executive Jez Moxey confirmed: “We have lodged an official letter of complaint, supported by considerable amounts of documentary evidence, with both the Premier League and the FA.
“This complaint relates to Bolton Wanderers and their assistant manager Chris Evans, a former Wolves employee. We allege that there has been a breach of the Premier League and FA rules in place to protect a club’s academy programme, maintain player contract stability and prevent illegal approaches of players.
“It is not an issue about money or the level of compensation we received for a player we did not want to leave; it is about the protection of the club’s academy programme and its development of young players, something which is of paramount importance to us at Wolves.
“We cannot sit on our hands and allow the events surrounding Mark Connolly’s departure to pass unchallenged or unnoticed.”
Connolly joined Wolves as a 16-year-old after appearing for Monaghan United and worked under Wolves Youth Academy Director, Chris Evans, who is now assistant manager to Gary Megson at Bolton Wanderers.
On August 21, 2007 the talented youngster made his Ireland under-17 debut in the 1-1 draw with Wales and played a total of 10 under-17 matches between September 2007 and May 2008 for Ireland in the European Championships and finals.
He was at Wolves for a year but it is believed that he didn’t return to Wolves from under-19 duty in April.
Connolly often played alongside 18-year-old Donegal-born defender Johnny Dunleavy for Wolves development side and Ireland underage teams.
Dunleavy, who turned down Manchester United and Celtic to join Wolves, signed a professional contract with Wolves at the end of last season.
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