Ex West Ham and QPR managers to be beaten to Wolves job as 'swift appointment' touted
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Wolves are on the prowl for a new management but an appointment is already in the works after Gary O’Neil was sacked.
Former West Ham and QPR managers are set to be beaten to the newly vacant Wolverhampton Wanderers role as the Premier League outfit lock in on a successor to Gary O'Neil.
Wolves parted ways with O'Neil on Sunday following a 2-1 defeat to fellow strugglers Ipswich Town at Molineux. The hosts saw a point slip from their hands with a 94th minute Jack Taylor goal while Rayan Ait-Nouri also saw red in injury time.
The Midlands outfit sit 19th in the Premier League table with just two wins so far this term. Wolves have lost their last four top flight fixtures, conceding 12 goals in the process.
In a statement released on Sunday, Chairman Jeff Shi said: “We’re very grateful to Gary for all of his effort, dedication and hard work during his time at the club, and we wish him and his team the best of luck for the future.”
With fixtures coming thick and fast over the festive period and into the New Year, speed is of the essence when it comes to Wolves appointing a new boss. In the hours after O'Neil's sacking, several familiar faces for London clubs emerged as frontrunners.
David Moyes stance on Premier League return
Somewhat inevitably, one of those was David Moyes. The former West Ham manager, who left the London Stadium at the end of his contract in the summer, continues to be linked with a return to management.
Speaking about his future to the Rest is Football podcast after leaving the Hammers, Moyes said: “I’m going to take a break, I’m not going to jump into anything. There’s loads and loads of young coaches out there just now and some exciting stuff. Some trends might go away, we’re seeing some things and we’re talking about it. We’re seeing it over here for the Euros as well, so I’m just going to take my time.”
Another name linked with the Wolves is John Eustace. The 45-year-old is currently head coach at Blackburn Rovers and has been since February 2024.
Rovers sit fifth in the Championship this season having avoided relegation last term with 11 wins in their opening 20 outings. The side is three points behind fourth-placed Sunderland with a game in hand.
Eustace has never managed in the Premier League but has previously spent time at Kidderminster Harriers and Birmingham City. The former midfielder also spent a spell at QPR as caretaker manager in 2019.
The coach had been working alongside Steve McClaren and stepped in to help the club avoid relegation between the former England manager's departure and Mark Warburton's arrival.
Wolves set to trigger Saudi manager’s release clause
However, it appears as if Wolves will look abroad to replace O'Neil with The Guardian reporting that the club is 'optimistic' about bringing in Portuguese coach Vítor Pereira as their next head coach. Pereira is currently in charge of Al-Shabab in the Saudi Pro League but had previously won domestic titles in Greece, Portugal and China.
The outlet touts a 'swift appointment' following O'Neil's departure with Pereira understood to be 'keen on the switch'. Wolves are set to trigger the coach's release clause to push through the appointment.