Wolverhampton Wanderers Sack Gary O'Neil

Following a 1-2 defeat by Ipswich Town, Wolverhamton Wanderers have sacked Gary O'Neil. He is the third EPL manager to be sacked this season.

Comments on the club website read:

Wolves have parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil and his backroom staff.

O’Neil arrived at Molineux just three days before the start of the 2023/24 Premier League season, taking on a significant challenge and ultimately guiding the Old Gold to a successful campaign.

During his first season at the helm, Wolves beat Manchester City and won impressively at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as rivals West Bromwich Albion during a journey to the FA Cup quarter-finals.

Chairman Jeff Shi said: “We’re very grateful to Gary for all of his effort, dedication and hard work during his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best of luck for the future.”

The parting of ways comes only two days after O'Neil recieved the owners public support, though offered with enough caveats that the tenuousness of the position was clear to all.

The defeat by fellow strugglers Ipswich leaves Wolves in nineteenth place and six points from safety - due to the inferior goal difference.

Gary too charge of Wolves in August 2023 and in 63 games in charge led the team to 20 wins, 11 draws, and 32 losses. He succeeded Julian Lopetegui who felt details about protential finances were, if not concealed then certainly, misrepresented.

The squad have clearly felt the pressure of being a team the previous manager intended to change, and that the present one knows it has limited ability to change. Fractious scenes in the tunnel at the end of yesterday's match followed the club captain being changed in the wake of defeat by West Ham last Monday.

With 22 games of the season left there is time for Wolves to turn things around, but under whose guidance? Whoever it is comes into a club with limited resources, a fractious squad, and dispirited fans. With the club finaces being as they are the candidate is likely to be a free agent, or have a contract that allows them to leave without Wolves having to pay compensation.

#UPDATE
BBC report that Wolves are in talks with Vitor Pereira, who currently manages Saudi Pro League team AL Shabab. The team currently sit sixth out of eighteenth. Pereira has been at the club since February 2024 and his contract runs until the end of the current season.

text by stuartcturnbull, picture from SkySports