Wolverhampton Wanderers defender Matt Doherty has admitted that the club's players are to blame for Dean Saunders's departure and their relegation from the Championship.

Saunders was sacked as Wolves boss on Tuesday after less than six months in charge of the Molineux outfit.

Doherty has said that the players are embarrassed to suffer back-to-back relegations from the Premier League.

"It is an embarrassment, to be honest," Doherty told Sky Sports News. "Everybody was completely shocked and to think we are going to be in League One instead of the Championship is not a good thought and it hurts me.

"It's not just happened while Dean has been there. It has been over the whole season, we haven't performed and I don't know what the matter is.

"We have players to do it but we just haven't done it and it is hard to put your finger on the reasons why."

Former Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle has been linked with the vacant manager's post.