WOLVES boss Stale Solbakken today admitted he must change the culture at Molineux to crush the fear and stop players being "bullied" in games.

The Norwegian believes Wolves have been on the slide ever since they survived their first Premier League season.

Wolves finished 15th in 2009-10 before staying up by the skin of their teeth in the 2010-11 campaign but relegation was finally confirmed by finishing bottom last term.

Solbakken has replaced seven players with seven of his own this summer – netting the thick end of £30m while spending £8m – and he has also sacked long-serving Terry Connor.

But with Wolves having won just three of the last 30 games going back to last December, there is a feeling that losing has become too easy to accept for the current squad.

And Solbakken insists he has to go further if he is to re-establish the club in the Premier League for a sustained period.

He said: "We have to change mentality,. We don't do that by changing one member of staff but we have to change the culture here.

"We are trying to rebuild and to get rid of this hangover and fear.

Advertising

"We are too concerned with the consequences and we have also been too easy to play against.

"Teams have murdered us – we have been bullied a little bit and we have to make sure that doesn't happen and be stronger.

"We have to adapt to a new life because the Championship that Wolves won three years ago is a completely different league now.

"Wolverhampton peaked then and then in their first season in the Premier League, but then they were virtually one kick away from relegation and they went down with a bang the following season."

Solbakken recognises he has a major rebuilding job on his hands.

He said: "Our match-winners have gone and we've got new match-winners, we have brought a huge amount of money into the club but there's a wage bill."