Former Wolves player Joleon Lescott says he was disappointed to see the club part ways with manager Rob Edwards following relegation from the Premier League last season.
Edwards was sacked by Wolves two months ago after just seven months in charge, and has been replaced by Portuguese manager César Peixoto.
Ahead of the Championship opener this weekend between Wolves and Blackburn Rovers, Lescott said: “I think they (Wolves) have given themselves the best opportunity to go back up with the players they’ve signed. I was disappointed to see them part ways with Rob Edwards.
“But listen, the players they’ve signed and the experience they have in the building, they would expect to go up and it’s different to winning the title. I think there’s no bad way to go up and get promoted. If you can win the league, great.
“But if you go up in the playoffs and there’s a new format, obviously this year as well. So by any means necessary, just get promoted and back into the Premier League.”
One of the other Premier League teams who were relegated last season were West Ham, and Lescott believes the two clubs are the best in this season’s Championship.
“Yeah, them and West Ham would seem fair, the size of the clubs. But more importantly, the players they’ve signed and Jarrod Bowen is obviously staying. So yeah, by those factors and obviously the stadiums and the fan bases they have, you would expect them two teams to be top of the league.”
On why it is so difficult to get out of the Championship, the Englishman said: “I think the expectation. I think the mentality is obviously a dramatic change in regards to being in the Premier League, where you are just hoping to win. Now you’re expected to win and perform.
“And the relentlessness of the games. It’s not easy, it’s very demanding physically and it’s constant. It’s twice a week throughout the whole season. So there’s so many factors that probably are underestimated.
“But when you’re looking at the quality and experience that Wolves and West Ham have, you would expect them to go up.”
Joleon Lescott spoke to Hayters at a TNT Sports pre-season event ahead of the new season.