Wolves keep Hoddle and seek younger squad

Glenn Hoddle received the benefit of considerable doubt yesterday when the board of Wolverhampton Wanderers decided to grant him another season - but the former England manager will be expected to lead Wolves into the Premiership on a reduced budget.

Hoddle, who had been linked with the vacancy created by Alan Curbishley's departure from Charlton, was summoned before the Molineux hierarchy to explain Wolves' failure to qualify for the Championship play-offs and to outline his plans for next season.

The team finished seventh in the Championship, eight points from a play-off spot, yet 40 adrift of the champions, Reading. Wolves lost only 11 of their 46 matches, but drew 19 and scored just 50 goals.

Jez Moxey, the chief executive, stressed that the manager's tenure was secure. With a 12-month rolling contract, Hoddle would have been entitled to a year's salary had he been sacked. "It's no secret that the board and Glenn are disappointed, especially as everyone was aware of the likely financial restraints if we didn't achieve promotion," Moxey said. "But he is a proven manager and the board feel confident he has the skills needed to rebuild the squad."

Wolves, having spent two campaigns in the second tier after their sole season in the Premiership, will no longer receive Premier League "parachute" payments. Moxey spoke of a "younger squad", which could include Northampton Town's central defender Luke Chambers, 20, who Hoddle watched against Chester on Saturday.

That is the end of the market in which Wolves will now be shopping, and Chambers is seen as a possible replacement for Joleon Lescott, who is likely to follow the Celtic-bound striker Kenny Miller out of Molineux. Paul Ince, 38, is hopeful of a new contract, while Hoddle is expected to sign the Hungarian midfielder Denes Rosa on a two-year deal.

* Adrian Boothroyd said he is flattered to be linked with the soon-to-be vacant manager's position at Charlton, but maintains that he is happy attempting to build something similar at Watford. "It's nice to be linked because it gives my already large ego a stroke," the 35-year-old said. "It's nice to be mentioned because these are big clubs, terrific clubs. If I'm getting mentioned it's because I'm doing well, and I'm getting a lot of praise just now. I don't want to just get out when someone offers me a big wad of money."