Thursday 14 July 2016 07:39, UK
Wolves midfielder Dave Edwards talks to Adam Bate about the takeover uncertainty surrounding the club and his hopes of a contract extension.
Dave Edwards still can't take the smile off his face. He's fresh from Wales' homecoming celebrations after their Euro 2016 heroics, his mind full of memories from a summer that will stay with him forever. "You hear that it's gripping the nation but until you actually see it," he tells Sky Sports. "From the airport to the castle, it was just a sea of red."
The 30-year-old midfielder started in the win over Slovakia and featured against England too before picking up an injury ahead of the Belgium game. He's typically modest about that particular disappointment. "I was delighted to be in the squad originally let alone get any minutes," he says quickly. Now it's a brief holiday with the family and back to business.
What Edwards will be going back to when he returns to Wolves' Compton training base later this month remains to be seen. The club is the focus of intense speculation with takeover talks believed to be at an advanced stage. A consortium involving Chinese billionaire Robin Li and Portuguese super-agent Jorge Mendes has Wolves fans intrigued and excited.
The players could be forgiven for being rather more concerned. "We don't know what's going on at the moment but hopefully things will get sorted one way or the other," says Edwards. "Everything is up in the air and the sooner it gets sorted the better. Then we can have some real direction in terms of where we are going. But it's definitely exciting times for Wolves fans."
There have been plenty of them at Molineux since Edwards arrived from Luton in January 2008. He's won Championship and League One titles with the club, played for three seasons in the Premier League, but also endured two relegations. "Since Kenny Jackett has come in, it's probably the most settled it's been since Mick McCarthy was in charge," he says.
"I think Wolves needs that to progress and hopefully whatever happens it'll be the start of something. Maybe a rise to the Premier League that's sustainable. Obviously we don't want to be a yo-yo team where the finances are there one minute and not the next. We'll try to get a bit of a level playing field and push on from there."
Edwards, the first player since legendary striker Steve Bull to score in nine consecutive seasons for the club, is entering the final year of his contract. A new deal would potentially take him past the 10-year mark as a Wolves player and open up the possibility of a testimonial. He's relaxed about the future but would relish the opportunity to stay.
I'm in no rush and with everything that's going on at the moment I'm sure I'm bottom of the list to get things sorted!
"I haven't spoken to the club about it personally," he admits. "I'm in no rush and with everything that's going on at the moment I'm sure I'm bottom of the list to get things sorted! But I'm happy to wait and just concentrate on starting the season well. If I get to play games that'd be great for me personally but it's in the club's hands.
"I think I need one more contract and that'll take me into testimonial territory. It's eight-and-a-half years that I've been there and my current contract runs out after nine-and-a-half years. It'd be great [to extend my stay]. Even though there have been ups and downs I can genuinely say I've loved every minute of it."
