Wolverhampton Wanderers chairman Jeff Shi has broken his silence in a rare public interview, directly addressing the growing discontent among supporters as the club's Premier League struggles deepen.
Shi responds to Molineux protests
The West Midlands club finds itself in a dire situation, rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table and 14 points from safety. This precarious position was exacerbated by a dramatic stoppage-time 2-1 defeat away to league leaders Arsenal on Saturday, a result that followed a heavy 4-1 home loss to Manchester United just days earlier.
That emphatic defeat to United last Monday night sparked visible protests from sections of the Molineux crowd against the club's board and its owners, Fosun International. Speaking to BBC Radio WM, Shi acknowledged the fans' frustration but indicated his and Fosun's commitment to remaining at the helm.
"Yeah, I think personally, I have the empathy. I feel the frustration from the fans," Shi stated when asked if he would stay for the long term. He continued, "Of course, I hope they can be more happy, and I hope the people in Wolverhampton can be more happy. And we have done that in the past, right?"
The chairman defended his approach, adding, "But in the meantime, I have my own way to run the club and to try to push the club to grow. So I feel that I have to keep myself calm, and to think about what to do for the future is the best way."
Controversy mars spirited Arsenal display
Despite the bleak league standing, Wolves delivered one of their most resilient performances of the season at the Emirates Stadium. They restricted the title-chasing Gunners to zero shots on target in the first half and looked set to earn a famous point after Tolu Arokodare's dramatic equaliser.
However, the match was decided by two unfortunate own goals, with the opener sparking significant controversy. Arsenal's Bukayo Saka appeared to be in an offside position before his cross led to a corner, from which Wolves goalkeeper Sam Johnstone inadvertently scored an own goal.
Bothroyd questions pivotal offside call
Former Premier League striker Jay Bothroyd analysed the incident on Sky Sports News' Ref Watch, arguing that the goal should have been disallowed. "He [Saka] is impacting the play," Bothroyd asserted. "He's impacted the play because that's where he's going. He's making a run for that ball. So he's making the defender [Toti Gomes] make a decision."
Bothroyd emphasised the tangible consequence, stating, "Ultimately, it has ended up in the net. The corner came, and Arsenal scored... there's an outcome that happened which was a goal, which cost Wolves." He suggested that VAR could have intervened to review the phase of play leading to the corner.
Former referee Dermot Gallagher provided context on the officiating team's dilemma, explaining that the assistant referee had to let the move develop due to its tight nature, with any offside check falling to VAR if a goal resulted directly.
A mountain to climb for Wolves
The combination of on-field misfortune and contentious decisions has left Wolves in a perilous state. While the performance against Arsenal offered a glimmer of hope, the club now faces a monumental task to secure its top-flight status.
Shi's public comments represent an attempt to stabilise the atmosphere around the club, urging patience and recalling past successes under Fosun's ownership. Whether this message will placate a fanbase growing increasingly anxious about relegation remains to be seen, as the team prepares for a critical period in their season.
