Wolves: Mick McCarthy ready to give Gary Megson a warm welcome

Dec 4 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail

GARY Megson’s welcome at Molineux with Bolton tomorrow is unlikely to be anything as warm as he will receive in Mick McCarthy’s company before and after.

The former Albion boss’ presence stokes up a fiery fixture which reached its height with John McGinlay putting Wolves out of the 1995 play-offs after appearing to punch David Kelly.

Megson’s Baggies also beat Wolves with the hint of controversy in December 2001 when Portuguese midfielder Jordao scored the winner after escaping a sending-off for a high tackle on Alex Rae which led to a 20-man skirmish.

Albion rose to third in the table and prevented Wolves from over-taking Burnley at the summit. Four month later they would be eleven points adrift, only for Megson’s men to have other ideas.

Not that McCarthy has ever, or will ever, be dwelling on events in the Midlands in 2002.

“I think you will find I was just preparing for the World Cup Finals,” he said. “So I wasn’t wondering about what was happening there.’’

McCarthy has never beaten Megson in four head-to-heads as a manager but that hasn’t cooled his liking for the Trotters boss.

“I am friendly with Gary, he’s a good lad.

“I played against him for years and have managed against him.

“He is still fighting a battle, like myself and everybody else.”