Butler angry over Wolves' stalling

The Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Paul Butler has criticised his club over the contract controversy which is threatening their Premiership survival fight.

The Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Paul Butler has criticised his club over the contract controversy which is threatening their Premiership survival fight.

Butler is demanding answers over his future and those of 11 other first-team squad members whose current deals run out at the end of the season.

He accused the Wolves hierarchy of "not giving a damn" about the players as they continue to insist that no new deals will be signed until the club's fate is clear. Butler, Steffen Iversen and Alex Rae are among the senior players left in the dark about their future.

Butler told the Wolverhampton Express And Star: "I'm very disappointed with the club's attitude over the contracts and I am not the only one. I think the club is taking the easy way out here and there are a lot of players who feel the same way.

"I want to assure fans that we are determined not to let this affect what happens out on the pitch. But the moment I finish a game the doubts about the future start creeping back into my mind and that can't be right.

"We go into work each day trying to stay positive, wanting to be upbeat and knowing we are in the fight of our lives," he added. "But all the time you're wondering if the club gives a damn about you."

Butler's scathing criticism could hardly have come at a worse time with his club back at the bottom of the Premiership and facing a daunting trip to Chelsea this weekend.

Wolves did not make any immediate comment but their chief executive, Jez Moxey, has remained defiant over the contract situation in the face of growing unease among players and fans.

Moxey is determined not to fall into the financial trap sprung on so many previously relegated teams and saddle his club with huge overheads in the Nationwide League.

The Wolves captain, Paul Ince, is expected to miss part of his side's run-in after a delayed reaction to a knee injury sustained in the defeat at Liverpool on Saturday.

Ince spent Saturday night in hospital complaining of great pain and was due to undergo a scan at Molineux to ascertain the nature of his injury. However, the delayed reaction has led to fears of nerve damage which would definitely rule him out of the trip to West London.

The Bolton manager, Sam Allardyce, is facing a battle with Juventus for Olivier Kapo. Allardyce has met Auxerre's French international attacker and hopes to sign him in the summer when he becomes a free agent. But Juve have also made contact and Allardyce realises he has fallen back in the queue for Kapo's signature.

Allardyce admitted Bolton will have to watch developments as Kapo compares their offer with others. He admitted: "I think we may be out of that race at the moment.