Trust statement - Meeting with club
Trust meets with Wolves’ new Executive Chairman to set out its proposals for change
Following the publication of our positional paper ‘Manifesto for Change’ last year, the Trust was invited to meet the club’s new Executive Chairman, Nathan Shi, and his senior team last week to expand on the points we made in the document.
This meeting was attended by Trust board members and senior club officials, including Shi and Matt Jackson, Technical Director. In advance of the meeting, all senior club officials had read the document and prepared responses to each point raised.
Summary
Our overall impression from the meeting was that senior club management fully understood the issues raised in our positional document, accepted criticism in several areas, and were firmly in a listening mode. However, we do not view this meeting (nor the forthcoming meeting between the club and members of the Wolves Fan Alliance) as the conclusion of our actions to apply pressure for meaningful change. That said, we do welcome the open and constructive atmosphere in which our concerns were addressed.
Takeaways from the meeting
Notes from the Trust’s meeting with the club will be circulated to members. While we remain seriously concerned about the club’s strategic direction, our key takeaways from the meeting were as follows:
The club acknowledged that mistakes have been made, particularly in relation to football management decisions, player recruitment and sales. While relegation is viewed as likely, the club believes that the appointment of Rob Edwards and Matt Jackson, alongside additional backroom staff, will bring a period of stability.
Fosun confirmed there is no intention to sell the club in the immediate future.
Nathan Shi committed to undertaking a full strategic review of the operational side of the football club and has been tasked with producing a new vision and strategy document for consideration by Guo Guangchang, chairman of Fosun International. This is expected to be completed by the end of this season or the beginning of next.
We were assured that Nathan Shi has full responsibility for the club and reports directly to Guo Guangchang, with Jeff Shi having no role in football operations.
The club confirmed its intention to make the necessary improvements at Compton Park to ensure that Class 1 Academy status is maintained, which is considered a priority.
The club confirmed its intention to begin discussions with relevant stakeholders, including the City Council, regarding the refurbishment or redevelopment of areas of Molineux, with particular focus on the Steve Bull Stand. They also committed to considering the establishment of a working group, including supporter representatives, as part of this process.
The club confirmed that relegation of the men’s team would have no impact on the continued development of Wolves Women, including any structural changes required should the team achieve promotion. It was noted that a dedicated advisory board was established in June 2025 to support the long-term growth and infrastructure of the Wolves Women team and the girls’ pathway.
The club agreed to arrange a separate meeting, with representatives of the Trust and others, focused specifically on fan engagement and the concerns raised in our document. They acknowledged the anger among supporters and expressed a desire to rebuild positive dialogue across all fan engagement channels, and groups.
Next steps
One of the key objectives identified within our document, and shared collectively by the other fan groups, was the need for change within the club’s senior management structure. In this respect, fans have enjoyed what could prove to be a big win - Jeff Shi has stepped away from any active involvement in the football club.
It is the view of the Trust that this change, alongside the appointment of Matt Jackson as Technical Director, has created an environment that may lead to a meaningful shift in the club’s strategic direction. Time will ultimately determine whether this progress is realised.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether Fosun can re-establish themselves as responsible custodians of our football club. The Trust will continue to represent the views of its members forcefully and transparently across all engagement channels. Specifically, we will be holding the club to account on its promises around strategy, the stadium, Wolves Women, and football decision-making – as well as its commitment to engaging with fans in a more meaningful way.
Further notes
The Trust maintains open and ongoing dialogue with the club in accordance with the requirements of the Premier League Fan Engagement Standard. These engagement channels include direct meetings, fan engagement groups, and the Fan Advisory Board.
The Trust has actively supported the collective Wolves Fan Alliance in its call for meaningful change at the club, both through visible protest activity and sustained dialogue – and we will continue to do so. The club has also arranged a meeting with the collective fan groups (29th January 2026), at which the Trust will be a participant. We will consider our future actions based on the outcomes of both meetings and after consultation with our members.
Our positional paper ‘Manifesto for Change’ which identified key areas of concern across all aspects of the club’s operations, as raised by our members and the wider fan base was issued prior to Jeff Shi’s departure.