John Branwell was in charge at Wolves in his third season by the time of the start of the 1980 – 1981 campaign and his Wolves side were beginning to struggle playing their football in the top flight as they finished off the season in 18th position, fortunate to avoid relegation. They enjoyed a fine run in the FA Cup that saw them reach the semi finals of the competition; however they suffered defeat against Tottenham at Highbury in the last four. They could only reach the third and second round of the FA and League the following season as they crashed out against Aston Villa and Leeds United. Worse was to come as they were poor in the first division, finishing the season off in 21st position, demoting the club to the second division. Graham Hawkins took over in charge of Wolves in 1982 and the response proved to be immediate as they finished the 1982 – 1983 season of fin second place.
Promotion in to the first division proved to be short lived the following year as they were condemned in the first division to a bottom placing of 22nd position. They were also awful in the cup competitions, suffering defeats against Coventry city and Preston North End early on in the cup competitions.
The 1984 – 1985 season saw the club suffer a second successive relegation as they plummeted to a 22nd position finish again, this time meaning third division football.