MANAGERLESS Town made an audacious attempt to install the Master of Molineux as the Lord of Leeds Road.

Stan Cullis was the top target for Town chairman Roger Kaye as he sought a replacement for Eddie Boot, who had resigned four games into the campaign.

Cullis' Wolves tenure had ended with a bitter sacking a few weeks previously.

He was a hero with the fans, having led Wolves to their first League titles and European glory in the 1950s.

Cullis, a cultured centre-half at Molineux and a former England captain, created a team which raised morale across the whole country with a hat trick of wins against top European clubs Moscow Spartak, Honved and Moscow Dynamo.

Though his side never reached a final in Europe, the victories came at a time when England were reeling after heavy defeats by the mighty Hungarians.

Cullis had learned from another great manager, Major Frank Buckley.

He had some of the era's great players in his Wolves side, including wing-half Billy Wright, the England captain.

Wolves won the League championship in 1954, 1958 and 1959, finished runners-up in 1950, 1955 and 1960, and came third in 1953 and 1956.

They also lifted the FA Cup in 1949 and 1960.

Cullis also received an offer from Juventus around the time Town made a move which was politely refused.

"We asked whether he would consider managing the club or assisting us in some other capacity," said Kaye, who spoke to the great man after Town's match at Coventry.

"He thanked us for our interest, but courteously declined the offer.

"He indicated that after much thought, he had decided to retire from soccer management.

Cullis re-emerged as manager of Birmingham a year later but in his five-year spell, never managed to recapture his earlier successes.