Jody Craddock was named Player of the Year at the end of season awards dinner on Tuesday night and after tipping him to win it last week, I was delighted to see the club stalwart step up and accept his just rewards.

It was tough to choose one player this year because it’s been such a close knit team that has succeeded in keeping us in the Premier League, though there have also been some strong individual performances.

Jody has been among the most consistent, and even when there’s been the odd mistake at the back, he’s compensated by scoring goals at the other end. His experience has been a huge asset, especially with so much youth in the side, and together with Marcus Hahnemann he’s kept things calm at the back in the toughest moments.

I’m really hoping to see him continue for at least another season and I think he will because he’s a true professional and among the fittest lads at the club. We certainly need his experience at the moment until we can replace certain players.

I’m sure he would happily admit he owes some credit to manager Mick McCarthy this season, who Jez Moxey named the best gaffer the club has had for 30 years.

I always think it’s difficult to compare different eras and I played under some great managers at Molineux, including Graham Taylor, Mark McGhee and Graham Turner, so there have been a few successful bosses with their own ways of doing things.

What I would say is that Mick has been the best in his particular set of circumstances. He has made the job his own and to have achieved survival is right up there with the success of the past because Premier League football is the toughest there is these days.

With the budget he’s had, he’s done incredibly well, so hopefully he’ll have more opportunity to make some new signings this summer so we can come back next season a stronger outfit.

Having done the job he was asked to do in the top flight, he’ll now be expected to stay up another season and build on things year-on-year to be considered a success. I think he’s got the capabilities to do that and I hope he goes from strength-to-strength and enjoys many more years at Wolves.

It all starts this summer in the transfer market and while the missed chances at the weekend, coupled with the fact we have been the lowest scoring Premier League team this season, means the spotlight will be whether a striker joins the club.

I don’t think that automatically means Mick will prioritise that position because you could also make a case for strengthening the team in defence so we could continue the success we had stopping teams.

Personally I would love to see another striker come in though – and I think 20,000 Wolves fans would like the same – but we need four or five players so Mick won’t be thinking of just one position.

I saw he mentioned the possibility of taking players from the relegated teams and it seems a clever strategy to me, because they’re going to be heading for the Championship, a possible pay cut and less chance to play good football next season.

That could be motivation enough to make the move to a side that’s managed what they couldn’t by stopping in the Premier League and Hull, Burnley and Portsmouth have all got some very good players. A few have stood out and I thought they should have been in the better sides.

These sort of players might have turned us down in the past because we were fighting relegation but after seeing us survive, they could be convinced the future is even brighter.

That could make life a lot easier for Mick this summer because last year, if I wasn’t a local lad, I might have had my reservations about a move to Wolves. People have recognised we’re a decent side now and Mick McCarthy got the team playing well in the second half of the season - and that could be a big draw for potential new faces.

Any new arrivals will obviously be followed by departures and it’s those players who have consistently missed out on the matchday squad that are most vulnerable. That’s up to Mick decide so I’m not about to name particular players I think could leave, but in truth nobody’s place is safe when a new player arrives at the club.

That’s football and it’s no different for managers, because they’re equally expected to maintain high standards. Mick has experienced that before so it’s quite appropriate that now he’s flying high, the last game of the season is against Sunderland.

I think he’ll be feeling like a Cheshire cat against his old club, whether he shows it or not, because he’s kept this Wolves team up and had their support throughout. I don’t think he’s got anything to prove at the weekend, he’s already proved himself by staying up, but I still reckon he’d love to go out and beat them.

He’d want the three points regardless of who the lads were up against on Sunday, but even if we don’t get them, he’ll be safe in knowledge we did our job this year.

Then it’s on to the track Monday as the first team visit Wolverhampton racecourse for an end of season celebration. I’m really looking forward to the event because I often head down there with a few mates for a cracking day out.

It will be a great way for the Wolves lads to unwind and celebrate their successful season, because although they had the end of season awards dinner Tuesday night, they still had the weekend game to consider.

It will be nice for the fans to give the lads a pat on the back in person too, just to say well done and we’ll see you in the Premier League next year!

BULLY’S TIP OF THE WEEK

There may not be Premier League survival riding on Sunday’s final ‘09/10 fixture, but there is a once in a lifetime prize at stake!

Finish in the top two scorers in the Wolves Accumulator at www.sportinget.com/wolves and you could follow my footsteps on to the hallowed turf this summer.