Wolves taken aback as O’Neil refuses offer to return as coach with the club confident O’Neil would take charge.
Wolves left stunned as Gary O’Neil walks away from talks to return as head coach.
Gary O’Neil surprised Wolves by pulling out of negotiations to become head coach again.
O’Neil was contacted by Wolves over the weekend, and on Monday, there were additional talks about him taking over for Victor Pereira. However, the 42-year-old has since changed his mind.
The Supporters’ Trust stated on Monday, prior to O’Neil withdrawing from the recruitment process, that his reappointment “would show a clear lack of strategic direction by the club hierarchy.” The majority of Wolves supporters strongly opposed O’Neil’s return.
O’Neil had hinted that he was content to take over for Pereira, who took over for him in December of last year but was fired following Saturday’s eighth loss in ten league games at Fulham.
Wolves will now need to find a fifth permanent manager in four years.
The club believed O’Neil was the best person to inspire the team after a terrible start, and he was confirming his backroom personnel.
Although Wolves had continued to communicate with other contenders, it was thought that O’Neil would assume leadership this week. James Collins, the head coach of Wolves’ under-21 team, and Richard Walker, the head coach of Wolves’ under-18 team, have been appointed interim coaches for the team’s Saturday visit to Chelsea.