Gary O’Neil has been sacked by Wolves after their 2-1 defeat against Ipswich ended in ugly scenes at Molineux, with the team winless in four games, four points from safety.
In Saturday’s clash, Wolves pulled a goal back after the visitors took the lead after 15 minutes with a Matt Doherty own goal, but fell late when a Jack Clarke corner was easily converted by his teammate Jack Taylor.
Both Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha were locked in a full-time brawl, with the former dragged down the tunnel after being pinned by Craig Dawson, with the atmosphere already toxic after fans chanted against chairman Jeff Shi and the Fosun owners.
Earlier in the week, Wolves were defeated at ‘El Sackio’ after failing to beat West Ham, as Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen sealed three points for Julen Lopetegui’s Hammers.
After Monday night’s 2-1 defeat to West Ham, O’Neil said: “However, this season has proven to be a huge struggle and after the 2-1 defeat to West Ham he said: “I’m not worried (about my position).
“As long as this journey ends with Wolves, I will be proud of it. I’m really proud of the group and everything they’ve given me. I can only ask you to do your best.
Wolves sack Gary O’Neil after winning just two games in the Premier League season
The team is currently 19th in the table and is in another relegation battle.
“We will not give up and we will keep pushing.”
Recent results have left Wolves with nine points from 16 games, and they are languishing in 19th place in the Premier League, already four points behind Crystal Palace in 17th place.
The Wolves have shown O’Neil the door after just two wins this season. Despite struggles at the end of last term, he was given a four-year contract on the eve of this campaign.
Although Wolves recorded wins over Southampton and Fulham in November, as well as drawings with Brighton and Crystal Palace, it was not enough to save O’Neil.
The humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Everton earlier this month sparked the anger of fans, who chanted for his sacking.
Chairman Shi and sporting director Matt Hobbs were not convinced he could improve performance enough to keep Wolves in the top flight.
Mail Sport understands the hierarchy have been actively seeking replacements since before the November international break and it is believed there were tentative talks with Graham Potter, although they did not progress.
Although O’Neil and his staff received improved contracts, the compensation package is believed to be more or less the same as would have been the case under the original three-year contract he signed when he replaced Julen Lopetegui in August 2023.
The Wolves hierarchy are believed to be actively seeking replacements for the manager.
The discord seems to be felt throughout the team, and the players explode again at full time.
Defeat to Ipswich after conceding a late corner at Molineux sealed O’Neil’s fate on Saturday
Speaking after the thrashing at Goodison Park, O’Neil said: “Regardless of what the fans think of me, there is definitely no one who works harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to.”
Wolves’ form dipped badly in the second half of last season amid an injury crisis and captain Max Kilman was sold to West Ham during the summer, while Pedro Neto, the club’s best attacking player, left. He moved to Chelsea.
Those sales generated around £100m but Wolves failed to sign the Premier League quality centre-back O’Neil wanted and O’Neil does not consider Neto’s effective replacement, Rodrigo Gomes, ready to start regularly .
Discord in the team has also been high, with goalkeeper José Sa filmed fighting with home fans at Bournemouth in early December, and Mario Lemina stripped of the captaincy after fighting with Jarrod Bowen at the London Stadium.
The club intends to invest in January to improve the squad, especially in defence, as Wolves have conceded 38 goals, the most in the league.