Vital Wolves Ahead Of The Pack Again

Wolves fans are all buzzing about Wolves current interest in Mansfield Town Midfielder Giles Coke, as reported by several sources today.

But Vital Wolves readers knew all about that possibility as long ago a mid January when we asked why Glenn Hoddle attended the Shrewsbury- Mansfield Town match at Gay Meadow.

Once again, you read it here first


18/01/06 Shrew-d Move For Hoddle ?

Glenn Hoddle turns up at the strangest of places. At the weekend it was East End Park for tea and biscuits with Graham Rix, and last night Glenn was once again out and about on his travels.

Glenn gave up his sumptuous Berkshire fireside to spend a cold winters nights enjoying the delights of a 0-0 draw at Gay Meadow between Shrewsbury Town and Mansfield.

Not as odd as it sounds when you look at some of the talent at Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters' disposal.

A quartet of Shrews players stand out as potential Wolves targets, but Peters is determined to keep them at Town as he looks to build his squad, not tear it apart.

18 year old Joe Hart has often been linked with a Premiership move.

The U19 England international has many admirers but would Hoddle be running his eye over another Goalkeeper?

Jamie Tolley became Shrewsbury's youngest ever player at 16 and 193 days when the midfielder debuted in '99, and has been a regular in the Welsh u21 side since he was 19. Was it him?

Or perhaps Dave Edwards, another midfielder to come out of the Shrews youth system and a Wales U20 star already at 17 was sparking interest in the former England Boss?

Or was it Ben Herd, the former Watford defender? Only 20, but already proving he has a bright future at a higher level.

It may have been none of them. Mansfield have a couple of tidy players themselves. Adam Birchall spent 9 years at the Arsenal Acadamy and turned down an offer to stay in favour of first team football elsewhere, and teenage midfielder Giles Coke is another youngster attracting alot of attention from clubs in higher leagues.

Glenn might have been driving past on his way home. He may have just been enjoying a lower league game.

But on a cold January night, with the transfer window open you don't have to be that shrewd to work out he was up to something.

Click here to join in the debate on the club forum.