Wolves have sounded out candidates to replace Gary O’Neil in the near future at Molineux.
Despite Wolves contacting five managers over the possible managerial vacancy, the club are no closer to identifying the Englishman’s replacement.
David Moyes, Graham Potter, Sergio Conceicao, Niko Kovac and Massimiliano Allegri were admired by the Old Gold, but it’s understood that the job does not appeal to any of the five.
Wolves fans are furious with Fosun as a result, with it made clear that the candidates had different ideas from the owner’s self-sustainable concept.
Graham Potter, Manager of Chelsea, looks on prior to the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Everton FC at Stamford Bridge on March 18, 202...
Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images
Graham Potter’s ongoing link to Wolves
While managing in the Premier League appeals to Allegri and others, the job at Wolves is more complex than tackling a relegation battle.
The way the club is run has generated criticism, with O’Neil expressing his concern over Fosun’s transfer methods after the Old Gold’s defeat to West Ham.
While managing in the Premier League would be a first for candidates Allegri, Kovac and Conceicao, the prospect of returning would face Moyes and Potter.
For Potter, the idea of leading the Wolves squad runs deeper than Moyes and the others, as the Englishman has an ongoing connection with the Midlands club.
Shaun Derry, first-team coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Ian Burchnall, first-team coach of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Gary O'Neil, head coach of...
Photo by Jack Thomas – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images
MORE WOLVES STORIES
This is because of his history with first-team coach Ian Burchnall, who succeeded him in Austria at Ostersunds.
In 2023, The Athletic detailed the relationship between Burchnall and Potter, outlining the former Chelsea manager’s influence on the club.
Burchnall explained the ‘culture project’ Potter had set up at Ostersunds to elevate those around him both performance-wise and as human beings.
“It was about being so far out of your comfort zone that this would be great training for them as human beings. When I went there, every player and staff had it written in their contract.
“So you can find clips online of Graham dancing Swan Lake. It’s mad, totally mad,” Burchnall admitted.
Being someone well known to Potter, perhaps the Wolves first team coach’s position at Compton could persuade the ex-Brighton boss to make a Premier League return.
Hiring Potter would be difficult
If only things were that easy.
Wolves not only have the issue of persuading managers to take on the project under Fosun’s reign but also, face competition from other clubs hunting a new coach.
West Ham and RB Leipzig also appreciate Potter, making it even more difficult to attempt to lure the Englishman to the task at hand at Molineux.
Potter has praised Wolves in the past, having come up against the Old Gold seven times, winning only twice.
Right now, it looks like a significant struggle for Wolves to recruit a proven and ambitious figure to replace O’Neil, giving Fosun something to strongly consider when assessing what’s going wrong right now.