Wolves’ defeat at West Ham has heightened the scrutiny on Gary O’Neil, who signed a new four-year contract in August.Photograph: Pedro Porru/SPP/Shutterstock
Gary O’Neil will remain in charge for Wolves’ match against Ipswich on Saturday, with the club determined to give him a chance to turn things around. Supporters are angry at a sequence of alarming results but the club have offered their immediate backing to the head coach.
In recent weeks the club have sounded out potential successors but, unable to identify a suitable alternative, they have decided to stand by O’Neil.
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Wolves have lost three successive matches, with defeat at West Ham on Monday heightening the scrutiny on O’Neil, who signed a new four-year contract in August. Wolves are four points from the last safe spot and have two league wins this season. They host Ipswich before travelling to another struggling side in Leicester the following weekend.
Wolves’ poor run dates back to last season, with a miserable record of three wins in their past 25 league matches. The club recognise they need reinforcements in January, with a centre-back a high priority.
The Wolves hierarchy are adamant they have navigated previously tricky spots and believe they have the tools to turn things around this time.
O’Neil said after the 2-1 defeat at West Ham: “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it. I am really proud of the group and everything they have given me. I can only ask them to give their best. We won’t give up and we’ll keep pushing.”
It remains to be seen how supporters react towards the decision at Molineux on Saturday. A section of Wolves fans turned on O’Neil after an embarrassing 5-3 loss at Brentford and they again aired their discontent during recent defeats.