Wolverhampton Wanderers

Jeff Shi wants ‘world-class’ Wolves

Speaking to the club’s official YouTube channel, Wolverhampton Wanderers director and Fosun International representative Jeff Shi today outlined his hopes for Wolves to become a ‘world-class club’ under the ownership of the Chinese conglomerate.

He also however, urged patience amongst supporters as new manager Walter Zenga looks to tie together a diverse group of players in the short-term, and spoke of his optimism for the club’s long-term aspirations.

“Fosun Group has a long-term plan for the club.” The Shanghai-based businessman began.

“When the chairman, Guangchang Guo, visited, I told him it’s at least a 10-year plan

“Our eventual goal is not just promotion or staying in the Premier League – we want to be a very big and good club, in both the Premier League and in the world, and a world-class club in the future.”

Having been the face of a £30million takeover that has seen the introduction of a new coaching team and 11 senior signings, Shi was in attendance last weekend as Wanderers bounced back from a humiliating 4-0 home defeat to Barnsley to claim three points at St. James’ Park, and understands that teething problems were always likely, with the short-term goal to be in contention for a promotion push by Christmas, after which Shi hopes a more settled side can cement a top-six finish.

“The first half of the season is a period in which we should work together to enhance our performance gradually, both on and off the pitch”. Shi said.

“Then in the second half of the season I truly believe that we will be much better, much more consistent than we are now.

“After half a year of hard work we will be much more like a team, with so many good players here.”

The Chinese conglomerate Fosun, whose chairman Guangchang Guo is said to possess a personal fortune in excess of 5billion US dollars, have sanctioned the big-money arrivals of foreign talents such as Ivan Cavaleiro and Romain Saiss this summer, as well as taking advantage of close links to ‘superagent’ Jorge Mendes to secure the loan arrivals of Benfica players Ola John, Helder Costa and Joao Teixeira.

“In the beginning I thought that between five and eight new players would be enough.” Shi continued.

“But in the meantime we realised that we have to have a very deep squad in order to compete in this league, it’s a very long season, we may have some injuries, so we should have at least 26, 27 players in our squad

“You have to join a cub with the ambition of promotion, but I always tell my team that promotion is a very important step, but not the last step

“It’s a long-term strategy.”

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