By TOM COLLOMOSSE
Published: 06:18 EST, 15 December 2024 | Updated: 06:19 EST, 15 December 2024
Gary O'Neil has been sacked by Wolves after their 2-1 loss against Ipswich ended in ugly scenes at Molineux, and the team winless in four games, four points from safety.
Saturday's clash saw Wolves claw back a goal after the visitors went ahead after 15 minutes via an own goal by Matt Doherty, but fall late on when Jack Clarke's corner was converted with ease by team-mate Jack Taylor.
Both Rayan Ait-Nouri and Matheus Cunha were caught up in a scuffles at full-time, with the former dragged down the tunnel after being restrained by Craig Dawson, with the atmosphere already toxic after fans chanted against chairman Jeff Shi and the Fosun ownership.
At the start of the week, Wolves were defeated in 'El Sackio' after failing to beat fellow struggled West Ham, as Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen sealed three points for Julen Lopetegui's Hammers.
After Monday night's 2-1 defeat at West Ham, O'Neil said: 'However, this season has proved a huge struggle and after the 2-1 defeat at West Ham he said: 'I am not concerned [about my position].
'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..
The side currently sit 19th in the table and find themselves in another relegation battle
'We won't give up and we'll keep pushing.'
Recent results have left Wolves with nine points from 16 games, and they are languishing 19th in the Premier League, already four points distant of 17th-placed Crystal Palace.
O'Neil has been shown the door by Wolves after just two wins this season. Despite struggles at the end of last term, he was handed a four-year deal on the eve of this campaign.
Even though Wolves managed to claim wins over Southampton and Fulham in November, as well as drawing with Brighton and Crystal Palace, it was not enough to save O’Neil.
The humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Everton earlier this month provoked the ire of fans, with supporters chanting for him to be sacked.
Chairman Shi and sporting director Matt Hobbs were unconvinced he could improve performances enough to keep Wolves in the top flight.
Mail Sport understands the hierarchy have been actively looking at replacements since before the November international break and it is thought there were tentative discussions with Graham Potter, though they did not progress.
Though O’Neil and his staff were handed improved contracts, the compensation package is thought to be roughly the same as would have been the case under the original three-year deal he signed when replacing Julen Lopetegui in August 2023.
The Wolves hierarchy are thought to be actively looking at replacements for the manager
Discord appears to be felt throughout the squad, with players again exploding at full-time
Defeat to Ipswich after conceding a late corner at Molineux sealed O'Neil's fate on Saturday
Speaking after the hammering at Goodison Park, O’Neil said: ‘Whatever the fans think of me, there is definitely nobody working harder than me and I will continue to do so until someone tells me not to.’
Wolves’ form fell away 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 – moved to Chelsea.
Those sales generated about £100m but Wolves failed to sign the Premier League-quality centre-back O’Neil wanted and Neto’s effective replacement, Rodrigo Gomes, is not deemed ready to start regularly by O’Neil.
Discord in the squad has also been high, with goalkeeper Jose Sa filmed fighting with home fans at Bournemouth at the start of December, and Mario Lemina stripped of the captaincy after tussling with Jarrod Bowen at the London Stadium.
The club are aiming to invest in January to improve the squad, particularly in defence as Wolves have conceded a league-high 38 goals.