Stale who? say Wolves players after Solbakken takes charge at Molineux

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<div class="track"><img alt="" src="http://hits.guardian.co.uk/b/ss/guardiangu-feeds/1/H.24.1.1/83079?ns=guardian&pageName=Stale+who%3F+say+Wolves+players+after+Solbakken+takes+charge+at+Molineux%3AArticle%3A1743864&ch=Football&c3=GU.co.uk&c4=Wolverhampton+Wanderers+%28Football%29%2CFootball%2CSport&c5=&c6=Press+Association&c7=12-May-11&c8=1743864&c9=Article&c10=News&c11=Football&c13=&c25=&c30=content&c42=Sport&h2=GU%2FSport%2FFootball%2FWolverhampton+Wanderers" width="1" height="1" /></div><p class="standfirst">• 'I don't know who the guy is,' says defender Roger Johnson<br />• Solbakken, who joins club on 1 July, 'can't wait to get started'</p><p>Stale Solbakken has been confirmed as the manager of Wolverhampton Wanderers to the bafflement of the players. The 44-year-old Norwegian will take charge of the team as they prepare for life in the Championship on 1 July.</p><p>Solbakken has signed a contract, but the length of the deal has not yet been disclosed. "I am delighted to be taking up the important challenge to manage Wolves. It's an exciting opportunity to manage a great club and I can't wait to get started," he said.</p><p>The Wolves players were informed of the appointment at a meeting with the club's chief executive Jez Moxey at the training ground on Friday morning and several admitted they had not heard of their new manager.</p><p>The central defender Roger Johnson told Sky Sports News: "I am not too sure. I don't know who the guy is to be honest. It is out of the blue. We'll see what happens." His fellow defender Ronald Zubar said: "Seriously, I don't know who he is but I will know today for sure."</p><p>Moxey said: "Following talks with Stale Solbakken I am happy to confirm that he has agreed to become our manager. He will be formally introduced to the media on Monday."</p><p>Terry Connor, who has been in charge since the sacking of Mick McCarthy in February, will lead the team in Sunday's final Premier League game at Wigan before standing down.</p><p>Wolves were widely criticised for the decision to turn to Connor, who was McCarthy's assistant, with the decision failing to inspire improved results. It is believed Connor will retain a role as part of the backroom staff after 13 years service with the club.</p><p>Solbakken has an impressive pedigree although his copybook was blotted last month when sacked by Cologne, who were then third from bottom of the Bundesliga. But before that he had led FC Copenhagen to five Danish titles.</p><p>He is a former Norway international but his playing career came to an end after he suffered a cardiac arrest on the training ground at FC Copenhagen, who were then managed by Roy Hodgson.</p><p>Wolves will hope Solbakken can pump new life into a team who were relegated after a three-year spell in the Premier League. He has Champions League experience with FC Copenhagen and steered them to a surprise win over Manchester United six years ago, as well as holding Barcelona to a 1-1 draw in 2010.</p><p>The Wolves chairman, Steve Morgan, has already promised that funds will be made available to try to restore Wolves to the top flight at the first attempt but Solbakken faces a fight to hold on to the club's top scorer Steven Fletcher, fellow striker Kevin Doyle and the England winger Matt Jarvis.</p><div class="related" style="float: left; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><ul><li><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/wolves">Wolverhampton Wanderers</a></li></ul></div><br/><div class="terms"><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk">guardian.co.uk</a> &copy; 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our <a href="http://users.guardian.co.uk/help/article/0,,933909,00.html">Terms & Conditions</a> | <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/help/feeds">More Feeds</a></div><p style="clear:both" />
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