keep the wolves

[Eugene2114]

Hi,
In the extract below, ‘the wolves’ sound like a kind of a foreign body here, as the only one I managed to find on “to keep the wolf (from the door)” was “to ward off starvation or privation”. Secondly, “indeed speculation” sounds a bit misty too.
Thank you.

“England coach … was first in the dock after the humiliating last-16 exit…He “absolutely” wants to stay on - but the Football Association will buy time before making a decision.
This may not be enough to keep the wolves, or indeed speculation, from Capello and the FA’s door, but there is enough wreckage to sift through until his fate is finally decided.”

[Dozy]

@Eugene2114

In the extract below, ‘the wolves’ sound like a kind of a foreign body here, as the only one I managed to find on “to keep the wolf (from the door)” was “to ward off starvation or privation”.

Right, that’s the usual meaning of the expression with “wolf” (singular). However, here it seems to be used with “wolves” (plural) to mean “keep hostility at bay”, or something like that, presumably echoing and reinventing the original expression.

“indeed speculation” is inserted parenthetically on the same understanding that “keeping something from the door” keeps it at a distance.