* Wolves Club Secretary, Richard Skirrow, to retire as planned at the end of February 2017.
* Richard will leave after 20 years of ‘outstanding and dedicated’ service.
* Matt Wild, currently at Hull City, scheduled to arrive as new Club Secretary.
Richard Skirrow, Wolves’ Club Secretary, has confirmed his plans to retire early next year when he’ll have completed over 20 years of ‘outstanding and dedicated’ service to Wolves, and over 25 years in football overall.
Richard, who joined the Club in 1996 from West Ham United after a near five-year stint as firstly Financial Controller and then Club Secretary, is one of English football’s most experienced and respected administrators.
As Wolves’ Club, and Company, Secretary he has served under three different owners, playing a key role in two club takeovers and experienced three promotions. He’s also been a Trustee of Wolves Community Trust, helping to steer the Trust towards charitable status.
Richard’s retirement plans, influenced by achieving the milestone of 20 years’ service at Wolves, pre date this year’s acquisition of the Club by Fosun.
He’ll complete his final transfer window in January 2017, followed by a handover to his successor Matt Wild who is currently at Hull City.
Matt is expected to join Wolves in early February 2017, after completing his notice period with the Tigers.
He was previously at Wolves as Assistant Club Secretary in 2004, before completing Club Secretary stints at Cambridge United, Rushden and Diamonds and currently at Hull City since 2013.
Whist on Humberside, he has experienced life in the Premier League and Sky Bet Championship, reaching an FA Cup Final and Hull City’s subsequent participation in the UEFA Europa League.
Kevin Thelwell, Wolves Sporting Director, said, “Richard has given outstanding and dedicated service to Wolves.
“He has been a highly respected colleague, and friend, to many people connected to Wolves, the city of Wolverhampton, and the game.
“Richard shared his retirement plans with us over 12 months ago and he’s played a key role in recruiting Matt (Wild) and planning a smooth handover period. We look forward to welcoming Matt to Wolves in February, 2017.
“As well as being a highly experienced football administrator, Richards’s personality, judgement, and reputation within football, have been a great asset to the Club during all the highs and lows of his 20-year long tenure.
“We’ll be very sad to see Richard leave and we extend to him our sincerest thanks and congratulate him on a fantastic career.
“We wish him all the best in retirement, where as a football and general sports fanatic, we hope he enjoys many hours watching Wolves, football and cricket without the added pressure that comes with the job!”
Richard Skirrow, Wolves Club Secretary, said: “It has been a real honour to work for such a truly great club for so long and I shall undoubtedly miss it.
“However, I think the time is right for someone else to have that privilege, particularly now that a new senior management team, that will hopefully work with each other for a long time to come, is evolving.
“I’ve worked with some great colleagues in what has been very much a team environment off the pitch as well as on it.
“I’ll continue to support and watch Wolves, of course, and I hope that sustained success is not far away.”
