By Scott Cooper
May 7 2005

THE Championship Season closes on Sunday as Sheffield United visit Molineux. Will it be Hoddle's last game in charge? It's Wolves Vs Sheffield United.

Back in 2003 Wolves finished the season by beating Reading and then killing off a Sheffield United side who stood between Wolves and a place in the Premiership.

Two years later and the season ends with exactly the same combination of games. Sadly however pride is all that is at stake this time as Wolves aim to make it eighteen games unbeaten.

Molineux is currently surrounded with optimism for next season. The arrival of Glenn Hoddle has given everyone a great boost and performances both collectively and individually have improved a great deal.

Wolves have lost just one game in 25 games under Hoddle in a season which, on the whole, has been bitterly disappointing.

However Hoddle will point to the fact that for the whole of this season Wolves have missed Key Players.

George Ndah has not kicked a ball in the first team since the play-off Semi Final first leg two years ago whilst fans favourite and Romanian International striker Vio Ganea has been injured for the whole of this term.

Add to that Portuguese international Silas (sent on loan by Dave Jones and expected to play back at Molineux next season) and Henri Camara and the Wolves squad looks greatly improved.

Hoddle will have all the above returning next season should he sign on the dotted line and indications are positive that a final decision is expected to be announced in the early stages of next week.

However before the players return and before an announcement is made the Wolves boss has Sheffield United to deal with.

United need to beat Wolves 4-0 and hope West Ham lose 3-0 to stand any chance of making the play-offs but Wolves are expected to be without Paul Ince, the former England captain still struggling with a calf injury.

Hoddle will try and name an unchanged side from the side described as "promotion favourites next season" by Reading Bboss Steve Coppell last week, but Oakes has been suffering with a virus and missed training on Friday. 16 goal striker Carl Cort should be fit enough to start from the bench.

There will be no promotion should Wolves win this one, but optimism for next seasons campaign will be increased that little bit more.