WOLVES boss Colin Lee is a man caught in the centre of a storm as his injury-ravaged troops head for Ewood tomorrow.

Almost two years to the day after taking over from Mark McGhee, Lee now finds himself in the midst of a deepening crisis.

Before the season started, the bookies had Wanderers among their favourites for promotion after two near misses under Lee's shrewd guidance.

But things have quickly turned sour for the men from Molineux and the situation finally came to a head last weekend when a 3-1 home defeat against Crystal Palace sparked angry demonstrations from disillusioned supporters fed up after years of underachievement.

Now, millionaire owner Jack Hayward has disappeared into the sunset to contemplate his future, leaving Lee to face the music. And his problems are piling up fast -- on and off the pitch -- as Wanderers slide towards the relegation trapdoor.

"This is an extremely difficult time for everyone connected with the club," said Lee.

"We've had one problem after another in the last three months.

"I appreciate the faith shown in me by Sir Jack but we all know we need to start winning matches and climbing the table as soon as possible."

Before Lee took charge, his predecessors had frittered away millions of Hayward's personal fortune in a bid to get the club back in the top flight.

But now the bubble has burst and, with the club losing £77,000 a week, Lee is the man left picking up the pieces.

In the last 18 months, star men like Robbie Keane and Ade Akinbiyi have had to be sold to balance the books. Then, in the face of further cut-backs, Lee was forced to shelve plans to sign former Coventry pair Paul Williams and David Burrows on Bosman frees in the summer. And he admits he has inherited a financial mess. "The minuses come from a long time ago. It is very difficult turning round massive overdrafts and big debts," said Lee.

"So what do we do? Sell another player?

"Today's team has inherited a massive debt. What we've had to do in a two-year period is look at a different way of operating.

"And, if we hadn't done what we did in that period, I don't know how much we'd be losing now."

However, a crippling injury list which includes the likes of Temuri Ketsbaia, Sami Al Jaber, Andy Sinton, Steve Sedgley and Robert Taylor, has necessitated the need for new blood. And Lee is desperately sifting through the bargain basement ahead of tomorrow's clash at Ewood.

"We've gone beyond the bare bones," said Lee.

"I've certainly never known anything like this before.

"Things are so bad that we have only had six or seven players training this week.

"But it's no good harping on about it.

"We've got a very important match tomorrow and it's my job to put out as strong a team as I possibly can.

"Hopefully, we'll be able to make progress as regards to bringing a couple of players in.

"We've made a number of calls, one after another, and there are one or two things that may develop as a result.

"So we've done everything we can to get players in and I'm hoping something will happen later today.

"But, if not, then we'll have to make do with what we've got."