A productive week as Wolves start rebuild

[Getty Images] "I want to reach the easy wins," said Wolves' executive chairman Nathan Shi at the fans' forum last month. He wasn't talking about Raul Jimenez, but in terms of raising the morale of their supporters, bringing him back is the easiest win imaginable. The idea had clearly been fully formed some time before the final home game against Fulham, but the impassioned singing of Raul's song around Molineux that day could have left Shi in no doubt what the fans wanted, and it has been delivered. Coming immediately after the much-trailed signing of Kieran Trippier, it has been a productive week. We can surmise that while they might have been easy wins, they have not been cheap, despite being free transfers. Although both are 35, Trippier has signed for two years, Jimenez for two with a further year's option. Both have played enough top-level football recently to suggest that they still have plenty left to fulfil those deals in full, although it would be reasonable to assume their playing time will be rationed now and then. Trippier confirmed other clubs had shown interest following his release by Newcastle, and Jimenez would surely not have found difficulty in finding well-paid employment. For both, this is partly personal. Those who study hints online picked up signals some time ago, not least from Jimenez's partner, of a yearning to return to Wolverhampton. "Both of my kids were born there," Raul explained after signing. "When I told them there was a possibility to join again, they were really happy." Trippier had family in mind too: "I'll also be closer to my kids, which is the most important thing for me." These considerations should be more widely appreciated. Unlike in a computer simulation, signing real players is not a plug-and-play process. Footballers can be family men too. Being comfortable in their surroundings surely helps to make a move a success. This is only the beginning of the necessary process. Wolves will need an injection of younger talent too, and it remains to be seen how many of the existing squad will want to stay, even if the club want to keep them. But they have addressed two key problems. Last season they clearly lacked good leaders; now they have signed two who should command immediate dressing-room respect. And they have made a first move to counter the sceptics who predicted corner-cutting and foot-dragging to undermine the rebuild. There is much still to do, but having told their fans they were serious about putting things right, Wolves have made a start on proving it. Explore Wolves content on BBC Sounds