Wolves next manager: ‘Clear front-runner’ named as talks advance
Wolves’ search for a new manager is already underway following their decision to sack Vitor Pereira and they already have a front-runner in mind.
Pereira was sacked after Wolves lost 3-0 to Fulham at Craven Cottage, extending their winless streak and stranding them at the bottom of the league table.
Wolves have now earned just two points and are without a win in their opening 10 Premier League games, leading to growing fears of relegation at Molineux.
In their efforts to replace Pereira, Brendan Rodgers has been tipped as the favourite alongside former Man United boss Erik ten Hag, who is also a key contender.
However, Wolves have their sights firmly set on an alternative boss who has now emerged as the front-runner to take the permanent job in the Black Country.
Gary O’Neil emerges as the front-runner for Wolves
Football Insider revealed on 31 October that Wolves are looking at available managers who they would not have to pay compensation for as they aim to replace Pereira.
As a result, Gary O’Neil is now in advanced talks over a stunning return after emerging as a strong contender to return to Molineux just shy of a year after he was dismissed by Wolves in December 2024.
That is according to former Man United and Sunderland chief scout Mick Brown, who remains very well-connected within the game, as he exclusively told Football Insider that O’Neil is now the “clear” front-runner for the role.
“There aren’t too many candidates for Wolves to go for,” he told Football Insider.
“That’s one issue they’ll face, given the situation they’re in at the bottom of the league and everything else, people aren’t exactly queuing up to go there.
“Somebody like Gary O’Neil, who they already knows and he knows the club, would make sense.
“He’s refreshed now after spending some time out of the game, so I don’t think it would be an issue for him going back despite being let go before.
“Bringing him in and asking him to turn things around immediately would be asking a lot, he will have to be given some time to make a difference.
“But when you look at some of the other contenders, I think he would be the clear front-runner.
“The likes of Brendan Rodgers or Erik ten Hag, are they going to want to go into a struggling Wolves side? I have my doubts.
“So then O’Neil makes the most sense both for the club and for him.”
However, Wolves fans are against O’Neil returning given the circumstances of his exit last year, as he was sacked following a run of just two wins in 11 games.
Brendan Rodgers update emerges in Wolves manager search
Football Insider exclusively revealed on 28 October that Rodgers is ready for a Premier League return after leaving Celtic and is weighing up his options.
Meanwhile, Wolves fans are keen for Rodgers to arrive, and he has been widely tipped as the favourite to replace Pereira in the immediate aftermath of his departure.
Following his decision to leave Celtic, the boss is believed to be considering his options but would not rule out a quick return to management.
However, Brown told Football Insider on 28 October that Rodgers is uncertain about the Wolves job given the ongoing situation at Molineux.
Rodgers is expected to have second thoughts over a move to Molineux which would see him leap “out of the frying pan and into the fire” given their situation.
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