Midlands | Gary O'Neil withdraws from contention for Wolves job

A former manager won't be returning to Wolves

Gary O’Neil has withdrawn from contention to become Wolves’ next manager after holding talks over a surprise return to Molineux.

Author | Peter Grainger

Wolves v Brighton

The 42-year-old, who was dismissed by the club 11 months ago, had been among the frontrunners to replace Vitor Pereira. Wolves had continued discussions with other candidates during negotiations with O’Neil and are now expected to focus on those alternatives.

Under the terms of his 12-month severance deal following his sacking last December, O’Neil remains on the club’s payroll. Reports on Sunday also linked him and Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards with the vacancy left by Pereira’s departure.

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Pereira, who succeeded O’Neil last winter, was dismissed after Saturday’s 3-0 defeat at Fulham left Wolves bottom of the Premier League, eight points adrift of safety. Their tally of just two points from 10 matches is the lowest ever recorded at this stage by a side that has gone on to survive.

Edwards, currently in charge at Middlesbrough, would present a more complicated appointment given the compensation required. The former Wolves Under-23s and first-team coach, who briefly took interim charge in 2016, has since ruled himself out of the running.

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Edwards seemingly told the media that he won't be moving to the Midlands: "I was told by my daughter yesterday [Sunday], so that probably tells you where I stand on it.

"You know my links to the club but my full focus is on this job here, which is a brilliant job, and trying to turn things around from the weekend in a really big game against Leicester.

"Speculation stuff is hard for me to comment about, anything else other than Middlesbrough, which is where my focus is, that we've done a decent job so far."

Whatever happens, the hierarchy at Wolves will be desperate to get someone in before this becomes another long saga. The season is still salvageable, but they will need to start getting points quickly.