Wolves supporters are feeling angry that Gary O’Neil remains in the hot seat at Molineux despite their abysmal performances.
Two confidence-boosting wins over Southampton and Fulham were supposed to be the catalyst for an upturn in form across December but instead, Wolves shipped four goals apiece in losses against Bournemouth and Everton.
Wolves’ 4-0 defeat to Everton on Wednesday should have been the final nail in the coffin for Gary O’Neil, who somehow kept his job after that harrowing display.
O’Neil is now set to take charge against West Ham, although regardless of Monday night’s result, Fosun could still sack the Wolves manager.
Now, ahead of their showdown against the Hammers, the 41-year-old has made a strange comment on the current transfer policy.
Guo Guangchang the chairman of Fosun International Limited and owner of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the Premier League match between Wolverhampt...
Photo by Sam Bagnall – AMA/Getty Images
Gary O’Neil defends Wolves transfer policy under Fosun
O’Neil can have no excuse for his side’s performances this term. Wolves have the worst set-piece record in Europe, conceding 11 goals from dead-ball situations.
Meanwhile, they’re sat second bottom of the Premier League with the most goals conceded after 14 matches (36).
The above elements are things he can control, but one that is out of his control is Fosun’s transfer policy, which sees them sell their star assets before they can buy.
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It’s seen so many great players depart in recent years without signing adequate replacements, the most recent being Max Kilman and Pedro Neto.
While that should leave the manager feeling aggrieved, O’Neil has actually defended the policy, telling the E&S: “We’ve made around £140million in the last two seasons and still found a way, so we’ve proved it can be done.
“There will be some difficulties in there, of course there will, and there will be some moments when it feels tough.
“But it can be done, you can make gains, find margins and keep the group together enough to make sure that it’s competitive.
“That is 100% of my focus at the moment.”
Fosun’s transfer policy will result in Premier League relegation
There’s only one way Wolves are going under the ownership of Fosun, and that is backwards.
Wolves have the second-lowest net spend in the Premier League, with only Everton profiting more from player sales in the last five campaigns.
Premier League club’s net spend last five seasons Amount
20th – Everton £27.66m
19th – Wolves -12.74m
18th – Leicester City -£23.36m
17th – Brighton -£38.08m
16th – Southampton -£60.26m
In terms of attracting a manager to replace O’Neil, it’s difficult to find someone who would work under these circumstances.
Wolves approached Graham Potter last month but Potter doesn’t want to work under Fosun as there is limited backing from the owner.
The former Chelsea boss isn’t the first and won’t be the last to decline the chance of working for Wolves.
They’re a team who are trending in the wrong direction, and if they continue to asset strip without signing quality in return, relegation feels inevitable – either this season or in the future.
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