Wolverhampton Wanderers have parted ways with manager Gary O’Neil following a string of poor results, culminating in four consecutive Premier League defeats.
The latest setback came on Saturday with a 2-1 home loss to relegation rivals Ipswich Town, leaving Wolves second from bottom with just nine points from 16 matches. The match ended in chaos, with Rayan Ait-Nouri receiving a second yellow card and Matheus Cunha needing to be restrained during a heated exchange.
In a statement released on Sunday via X, Wolves said:
“We have parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil and his backroom staff. We thank them for their effort and hard work over the last 16 months.”
O’Neil, 41, was appointed in August 2023 following the departure of Julen Lopetegui. Despite guiding Wolves to a 14th-place finish last season, this campaign has seen the club embroiled in a relegation battle. O’Neil had signed a new four-year deal in August, but a dismal run of form sealed his fate.
The turmoil on the pitch extended beyond results. Monday’s loss to West Ham saw Mario Lemina clash with Jarrod Bowen after the final whistle, leading to Lemina being stripped of the captaincy.
Saturday’s defeat to Ipswich added to Wolves’ woes, with Jack Taylor netting a stoppage-time winner for the visitors. Wolves had initially taken the lead through Matt Doherty’s own goal but failed to capitalize, further deepening their struggles.
Following the Ipswich loss, O’Neil expressed frustration, urging his players to step up.
“It’s frustrating because we’ve already got enough to handle at the moment without addressing off-the-pitch matters,” O’Neil said.
“The players need to take responsibility, but I’ll support them in every way. We’ll get back to work on Monday morning.”
O’Neil’s departure marks a turbulent period for Wolves, as the club now faces the daunting task of finding a replacement capable of steering them away from relegation danger.
