McCarthy had hoped to recruit Woodgate in order to strengthen a back line that has leaked seven goals in two league games and is one of the most porous in the division. The former Republic of Ireland boss revealed he had been snubbed by the player himself, rather than his parent club.
"I made an enquiry, and I think if there was a world-class centre-half, which he's been, and if he gets back to his fitness he will be again, it was worthy of doing," said McCarthy. "He doesn't want to do it, he wants to fight for his place there, so fair play to him. I haven't spoken to him, but that's the message I've got back."
Although McCarthy admitted his club have had "a few knockbacks" during this transfer window, one player who has moved to Molineux is Dundee striker Leigh Griffiths, although hethe youngster is not ready for the first team just yet.
"He's scored 45 goals in 90 games and he's got an eye for goal," McCarthy said. "He's not up to speed here yet, in terms of being a Premiership player, but he's hungry to do it and he wants to get there.
"He's not a player to come into our team now and suddenly start scoring. If we can work with him and improve him, we may well have got ourselves a little gem."
McCarthy also spoke out about Blackpool's ?£25,000 fine for fielding an under-strength team against Aston Villa earlier this season.
Wolves were given a suspended fine of the same amount last year when they were deemed to have fielded a weakened side against Manchester United, and McCarthy believes that the Premier League are targeting the division's smaller clubs.
"It would appear that it's the smaller teams with smaller squads, who perhaps need to make those changes who get punished," he said.
"Manchester United didn't, a couple of years ago against Hull, and Arsenal didn't when they expected to beat Wigan [earlier this season] and drew."
Source: PA
Source: PA