A new documentary has been released about Wolves Women.
Wolves Women boss Dan McNamara has revealed he almost left the club last summer after the controversy regarding their failed bid for promotion.
The team took the fight for promotion to the second tier to the final day but lost out to Nottingham Forest, only for the players to find out after the game that former club chairman Jeff Shi had failed to apply for a Tier 2 licence.
That meant that the team would not have been promoted, even if they achieved the feat on the pitch on the final day.
Now, Wolves Studios have released a new micro documentary titled ‘Wolves Women: Old Gold, New Dawn’, which explores the fallout from that widely criticised decision by Shi last year.
McNamara said: “What happened in the summer was probably one of the most devastating things that’s happened to me as an individual, and us as a group.
“ When I was told that we hadn’t put the bid in, I really questioned what I was going to do with that information – I was in tears. It was devastating to hear.
“It was then almost like walking into a house that had burnt down and putting it back together. Once I got three, four, five of the senior players to buy into it, it rolled out from there.”
He added: ”I almost said the journey was over because in that moment I really felt it was.
“I nearly went in the summer. I had a couple of job interviews and was offered a couple of roles but it didn’t really light the fire within me, it wasn’t Wolves.”
Player and Wolves season ticket holder Beth Merrick was heavily critical of the club on social media when the news broke in 2025, and was one of five individuals interviewed for the new documentary, as she opened up on hearing the news.
“The way we heard about the bid not being put in was on the final day of the season,” she said.
“We’d pushed it to the final day with a very small glimmer of hope and then when we went in the changing room afterwards to reflect on what the season had been, it seemed like the staff had a message to give to us.
“The mood was quite solemn, it was quite strange. It didn’t seem right.
“People were ultimately playing under a false pretence.”
She is also joined by captain Anna Morphet in the documentary, alongside club technical director Matt Jackson and Wolves Women chairman Jenny Wilkes.
The film goes on to look at how Wolves have learned from last year’s mistake, are attempting to improve their Women’s side and how they have bounced back this season.
The team head into the final day of the season later this month and could win the title if Burnley slip up, while a WSL expansion will see a one-off play-off for the second-placed team, meaning Wolves have another route to promotion this year.
Jackson said: “This application was really significant for us, after the difficulties of last year.
“We had to deal with a lot of fallout. Quite rightly, a lot of the women’s team felt bruised by it, but we’ve come out of it with a really strong relationship, with the full backing of the ownership and board here.
“The women themselves will work incredibly hard to overcome whatever challenges they face over the coming months, and they have our full support and will do going forwards.”
Directed by Jack Otter and driven by broadcaster and Wolves Women advisory board member Lynsey Hooper, the documentary is available to watch on Wolves TV and YouTube.
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