Wolverhampton Wanderers

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Challenges. Leaders and followers. Tactics. Second guessing and wondering where to turn next.

This could be any game of football in the Premier League this weekend.

It is also the plot to any episode of BBC's hit show - The Traitors.

The countdown to the end game of the Celebrity series is on, but, while we wait for that, we want to know which Wolves player (or manager) - past or present - you think would make the best traitor, and who would be more suited to the role of a faithful.

Was it the way they could appear at the back post without anyone noticing? Or could they stop anybody getting past them?

Get in touch with your choices and the reasons why here

The Celebrity Traitors final will air on Thursday, 6 November on BBC One and iPlayer

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Wolves will not rush to appoint a new manager this week with the club likely to still be under caretaker charge against Chelsea.

Under-21 coach James Collins and Under-18 boss Richard Walker are currently taking the side after Vitor Pereira's sacking on Sunday.

With the international break coming after Saturday's trip to Stamford Bridge Wolves are unwilling to push through an appointment just for the sake of Saturday, although the situation could still change quickly.

Former manager Gary O'Neil pulled out of talks on Monday, ending a shock chance of a return, while appointing ex-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is unlikely.

Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards is of interest but Boro would be due compensation. Edwards was previously Under-23 manager at Molineux and had a two game spell in interim charge in 2016.

Wolves are bottom of the table with just two points, a total no side in the Premier League has survived from after 10 games.

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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Crikey, where do we start? Any appointment has a mammoth task.

The new manager must set clear requirements with owners Fosun: be firm, direct and specific about club structure and the transfer window. The priority is a solid spine that can rescue poor performances.

Next, restore confidence and belief. The team look at rock bottom, but there is still faith they can turn it around.

The errors are not about talent, they stem from a lack of confidence, direction and belief. That must change.

Don't concede and you won't lose. It sounds basic, but it has been forgotten. Pick a back line and live with it through the bumps.

Stop shunting Ladislav Krejci into midfield, then dragging him back. He needs a settled role. He is a £30m central defender; when you are leaking goals, use that ability. Or play him in a Conor Coady-style sweeper role to distribute and get the team moving upfield.

Up front, it is about belief and habits. There is little creativity, it is all too static.

Use Jackson Tchatchoua's pace. Release some players from heavy defensive duties and provide cover so they can attack and create.

Goals do not come from sideways and backward passing, they come from chaos in the box. Get crosses in and look like you are not afraid to score.

Stability is essential. The manager must find their best XI quickly and keep it. There has been too much chopping and changing.

The team needs consistency to gel. Play footballers in their preferred roles where they are most comfortable if results are to come in the short term. Stop forcing square pegs into round holes.

Leadership is non-negotiable. Great teams have great leaders and Wolves are short. Five captains already this season tells its own story. Choose a captain, stick with them and demand standards on and off the pitch.

Make Molineux a fortress. Getting a despondent fan base on side is key. If the faithful turn, Wolves are doomed.

Above all, the ownership question looms. Fosun talk prudence, supporters want ambition. Wolves need a clear plan and a manager empowered to execute it. Without that, they are not flirting with the drop - they are packing their bags for it.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

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Wolves are looking for a third manager in less than 12 months after becoming the first side in history to start consecutive seasons without a victory in their opening 10 top-flight matches.

They achieved a near-miraculous escape from relegation last season after having only three points by this stage of the campaign - but no side has stayed up in the Premier League with two points after 10 games.

Wolves' owners have opted to act quicker than they did last term, when Gary O'Neil was sacked after 16 matches with the team 19th in the table and four points from safety. Vitor Pereira replaced him and Wolves earned 33 points from their remaining 22 games to finish 16th.

The fact Pereira's appointment produced the desired short-term effect in ensuring Wolves stayed up was vindication of the decision taken by the club's owners. It echoed similar success in late 2022 when Bruno Lage was replaced, eventually, by Julen Lopetegui.

Nonetheless, recent Premier League history does not reflect too fondly in general on a club's decision to change the manager while stuck in the relegation zone.

Across the previous 10 seasons, 37 managers have parted ways with a club in the bottom three. Only 13 of those sides stayed up.

That equates to a 35% success rate. Wolves have twice beaten the odds in recent seasons - will a hat-trick be beyond them?

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Wolves have parted company with the club's head of professional football Domenico Teti.

The former Sampdoria technical director only joined in June to work with Vitor Pereia, with the pair having previously been together in Saudi Arabia with Al Shabab.

However, after Pereira was sacked on Sunday following a 3-0 defeat at Fulham that left Wolves bottom of the Premier League with just two points from 10 games, Teti has followed the Portuguese out of the door.

The decision comes after amicable talks between the club and Teti, who replaced previous sporting director Matt Hobbs.

Executive chairman Jeff Shi said: "Domenico approached his role with total professionalism and built strong working relationships across the club during his time with us.

"He made a positive contribution to our football processes and has carried himself with integrity throughout.

"We thank him for his efforts and support and wish him every success in the future."

Wolves continue to search for a new manager with former boss Gary O'Neil having pulled out of the running on Monday.

Meanwhile, any appointment of ex-Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is unlikely.

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Vitor Pereira was sacked at the weekend with his Wolves side propping up the table.

The question is, was he sacked because they are bottom or are they bottom because he and other Wolves managers have been sacked too quickly?

The next Wolves boss will be the fifth in five seasons. Does that really give anyone the time to develop a squad, especially if someone else is choosing the players?

West Ham are on a measly seven points from 30 so far, with a record of three managers in the past 18 months after foolishly getting rid of David Moyes.

With the spirited victory against Newcastle, Nuno Espirito Santo showed that there is a team in there somewhere but will they stick with him?

The other team currently in a relegation spot is Nottingham Forest. They have gone through more than a manager per year in the eight since Evangelos Marinakis got hold of the club, surpassing himself lately with three different managers this season alone.

This many changes can be made to work in the short term. Chelsea did it brilliantly for years with some of the greatest coaches in the world but it cost a huge amount of money. Roman Abramovich had the dosh and was willing to spend it. More crucially, he was allowed to spend it back then with different rules in place.

I would hazard a guess that the three currently at the bottom will each get relegated if they change managers yet again and destroy the last vestiges of stability and any remaining facade of intelligent planning at their clubs.

Any one of them might still go down anyway because of rash decision-making in the past that has finally caught up with them.

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Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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There are other contenders, and Wolves have always had open dialogue with other contenders apart from Gary O'Neil. There was a framework in place, a large part of the framework was agreed upon for O'Neil's return, but ultimately, he has decided that he has pulled himself out of the running.

There is interest in Rob Edwards at Middlesbrough, and he's got a really big connection with the club, having coached the Under-23s, first team and had two games in interim charge in 2016 when Walter Zenga was sacked.

But we understand that former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is of interest to Wolves, and obviously, he is available, having been sacked by Bayer Leverkusen in September after just three games in charge there.

Obviously, though, there needs to be mutual interest for that to happen. He is the name that has been mentioned to me by more than one person."

Listen to Nick speak about Wolves on BBC Radio WM here

Ryan Leister from The Wolves Report Podcast says "any manager has got to be pretty desperate to go to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the moment" because the club is in such a poor place on and off the pitch.

Leister spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club as it was being reported that Gary O'Neil had pulled out of the running to re-join the club, 11 months after being sacked.

"I'm not sure Wolves have the pull to get someone of a real high quality, that has the credentials of giving us any chance of staying up," he said. "Any manager of a decent calibre that wants a job in the Premier League, has got to be pretty desperate to go to Wolverhampton Wanderers at the moment.

"The ownership have made it clear that they are not ambitious anymore and the self-sustainable model is just not working.

"If you look at Brighton, Brentford and to an extent Bournemouth, they are data driven clubs who are pretty much self sufficient. That is because they have a plan.

"If their manager gets poached then they have their best players and a succession plan. It feels like there is not that plan at Wolves and they seem to be winging it.

"It hurts me to say, but we deserve to be where we are because the club is being ran appallingly and the football has not been much better."

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"The issue with Wolves is that there is no vision," said Rory Smith on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.

"That means whoever comes in as manager will be working with a squad that has been incrementally, but consistently, weakened for the last four or five years.

"I saw a post on X that said Wolves have become an experiment as to what happens if every single year you sell your best players and replace them with worse ones.

"What happens is you slide down the league table and eventually get relegated."

Watch the full episode on BBC iPlayer and listen on BBC Sounds

Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is among the candidates being considered by Wolves with no decision on Vitor Pereira's successor as head coach expected this week. (Athletic - subscription required), external

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Former Wolves manager Gary O'Neil has pulled out of the running to take the vacant managerial role.

Sources have told BBC Sport a large part of the deal had been agreed but O'Neil has now withdrawn from the process.

The former midfielder previously spent just over a year in charge, overseeing 63 matches in all competitions. During that time, his side won 20, lost 32, and conceded 117 goals, while scoring 94. This included away wins against Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and Chelsea.

Despite making a promising start in his first campaign, Wolves' form dipped sharply towards the end of his tenure. O'Neil won only two games in his final season and lost 11 of his last 16, a run that ultimately led to his departure.

Gary O'Neil has held talks with Wolves over a potential return to the club - less than 12 months after he was sacked by the relegation-threatened Premier League club.

You can read more on the story here but from our poll, it seems fans would rather the club make a move for ex-Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers.

Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards, who made 100 league appearances for Wolves, has been linked with the role but today told BBC Radio Tees: "I can understand it with 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 for a really big game against Leicester.

"It's hard for me to comment on speculation and anything other than Middlesbrough.

"We've done a decent job so far and all I care about is trying to win tomorrow."

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves are looking for a third manager in less than 12 months.

Owners Fosun wanted stability and consistency but they have been left with a wreckage that could ultimately drag them down to the Championship.

It is fair to say they did not want to be in this position and were reluctant to sack Vitor Pereira on Sunday morning but the nature of the defeat at Fulham left them with no choice.

They are bottom of the Premier League, eight points from safety and with just two points from 10 games.

It means they are also looking at their fifth permanent manager in four years and the stability Fosun crave has given way to insecurity and uncertainty.

That Gary O'Neil - who Pereira replaced last December - is being considered for a return shows the difficult situation at Molineux as they look to save themselves from the drop.

Pereira's predecessor won 20 of his 63 games in charge of Wolves, losing 32, and has been out of work since leaving. However, he was close to the Norwich job in the summer, knows the majority of the squad and has experience of keeping teams up.

He kept Bournemouth up in 2022-23, finishing 15th, and took Wolves to 14th after replacing Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the 2023-24 season.

It unravelled early in 2024-25 after a 10-game winless start but O'Neil, who recently changed agents, could make a surprise return.

Rob Edwards has his admirers at Wolves, having been the Under-23s coach and first-team coach, while he also had a two-game interim spell in charge in 2016.

The Middlesbrough boss has Boro second in the Championship after taking over in the summer but there has been no contact from Wolves yet.

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We asked for your views on who the next Wolves boss should be.

Here are some of your comments:

John: 'It can't go on like this, can it? It can'. Famous words from Mick McCarthy. We have to get whoever we can get at this point, because who would want this job? Realistically, I would want Brendan Rodgers, but whoever it is good luck!

Allen: Not Gary O'Neil! It's the ownership's fault for the decline as they have sold players and not replaced them well. All Wolves fans know whoever comes in has their hands tied behind their back and their reputation will be shredded by association with a flailing club. I'd really like Julen Lopetegui back but he won't work for Fosun because of the sell-and-not-replace model. Maybe try Steven Gerrard? He can learn his trade here and then keep us in the Championship, and build a team for a future in the Premier League when Fosun have decided what they want to do with the club - run it to the ground or give it a chance of success.

Paul: Must be some sort of joke if they're considering O'Neil! Rodgers is the only one on the 'possible list' worth considering.

Simon: Certainly not O'Neil - that would be a bad move. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could be a decent move.

Jay: I want Rodgers but would he want to come into this, or wait for a better opportunity to come along? Honestly, whoever we get is going to struggle as the squad is poor and we don't have any money to improve it in January. Fosun will have to sell the club as they have not got the money to keep us fighting.

Richard: The next appointment should be part of a long-term plan which must include the high probability of returning to the Championship. Therefore, a coach that understands the challenges of both leagues, as well as how to rebuild an unbalanced squad. Rob Edwards would be a good shout, especially as he has a strong connection with the club already.

Cyril: It has to be Rodgers. Out of those linked with the job, he is the only one with a track record. That is unless Nuno Espirito Santo becomes available, as I think his heart is still at Wolves.

Choose from our selection

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Former Premier League goalkeeper David James believes whoever takes the Wolves job "will have 28 games to do something" and that "should be enough" to save them from relegation.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast, he said it was not a surprise that Vitor Pereira was sacked but reckons their next appointment is crucial.

"When they were doing well last season it was because they had players in their squad that could win games," James said. "Wolves took advantage of taking points off teams who had little to play for and that made the end of their season look pretty good.

"I don't think the players left are not good enough, because with the right manager they should have enough to stay in the Premier League.

"Burnley and Leeds are sat just above the relegation zone, so Wolves could get above them, but it depends on whether West Ham have enough to get out of it.

"Whoever comes in will have 28 games to do something.

"Wolves shouldn't go for a tried and failed manager as they need someone who will work with the players.

"If they can get someone who is doing fantastic somewhere else, then that would be even better."

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Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

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Wolves sacking Vitor Pereira wasn't a shock. Strange line-ups, tension with fans and poor form made it inevitable.

Pereira set out to make us tough and physical. Instead, we've shipped 12 goals in the last four games and offered almost nothing going forward. Hard to beat? Nowhere near.

His Craven Cottage teamsheet read like a surrender note, and benching both Andre and Joao Gomes summed up the chaos.

Although he made mistakes with wild selections and muddled tactics, he is not the root cause. This slide has been years in the making.

The early Fosun years brought smart recruitment and purpose and, at our height, a European dream. Then the gears slipped. Managers came and went. Money was spent and then clawed back.

Season-ticket hikes, sales of key players and stadium promises on hold, all while corporate messaging told us not to dream of trophies and glory.

On the pitch, the story matched the boardroom. From Julen Lopetegui's messy exit to Gary O'Neil's firefighting and now Vitor Pereira's surrender at Fulham, every coach has reached the same wall.

The players argued with staff, the tempers flared with fans, the bond gradually frayed - that is the saddest part.

Now we are on the same merry-go-round looking for our third manager in as many years. So what next? A new head coach will walk into the same storm.

Nothing changes without clarity from the top. If Fosun stay, they must bring in experienced and independent football leadership and show a plan that lasts longer than one window.

Communicate it. Back it. Repair the relationship with supporters with honest steps, not just lip service.

Of the early contenders, I would like Brendan Rodgers. He has the experience to drag this team up by their bootstraps, organise a wobbling dressing room and squeeze points out fast.

Whether his ideas align with the owners is the question. Whoever they choose they must give them authority and strong backing in January.

The clock is ticking. The fans need more than words, we need direction.

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Who would you appoint? Tell us

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Liam Keen – Wolves writer for the Express and Star - speaking on BBC Radio WM: "Vitor Pereira - this is a manager who captured the imagination of Wolves fans six or seven months ago. He was able to be that firefighter. There was a genuine connection there that I think was real between supporters and manager. Of course, relationships like that are built upon results. When results aren't there, that relationship starts to fade. He was a very good person to work with and I think he had his heart in the right place."

On fans being frustrated on social media over links with a return for O'Neil: "You think you have seen it all and heard it all and all of a sudden a manager sacked a year ago is back in contention. It is absolutely accurate that he is a strong contender to get this job. It's not a surprise that he would be interested in the job. He's not got a job, it's a Premier League job. It's a good opportunity regardless of Wolves' position in the Premier League.

"The inherent problems at Wolves run a lot deeper than the managerial casualty.

"There will be other names available that are spoken about internally. Whether they will take the fans' reaction into account I don't know. From Gary's perspective he will have to consider it. From Wolves' perspective - if they were to bring him back in, they have to consider what he has learned and will do differently because things clearly didn't work towards the end of his tenure."

Former Wolves attacker David Kelly speaking on BBC Radio WM about the exit of Vitor Pereira: "As we all know, you just can't have a record like that and stay in your job.

"Is the squad full of quality? Not it's not. Is it one you can put a few quid on to stay in the league? No it's not. Whoever comes in and takes over the role, there'll be big names and slightly smaller names, they have one heck of a job to do.

"Gary O'Neil, Kevin Muscat, Robbie Keane, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Brendan Rodgers, Ange Postecoglou have all been mentioned. There are names out there that would absolutely love the Wolves job.

"There will be hundreds of applications for this job because it is a huge club and it is a fantastic job on offer. As head coaches and managers, we all believe we can make a big difference and stop the club from getting relegated.

"But whether whoever comes in will be given any money in the January window, we are yet to see. There is a massive task ahead for whoever takes over."

Listen to Kelly here

The Vitor Pereira era is over and further down this page you'll find some words from our readers on whether his dismissal was the right move.

On Saturday, goalkeeper Sam Johnstone said "we should be embarrassed" after defeat to Fulham in London.

Less than 24 hours later, the club acted, sacking Pereira and placing Under-21 head coach James Collins and under-18 head coach Richard Walker in charge of training for now.

In a statement on Instagram, Pereira has said: "It has been a privilege to manage Wolverhampton Wanderers and experience unique moments with this club and its supporters. I would like to thank the club's owners for their trust, the players for their hard work and commitment over these months, and all the staff for making me feel part of the family. I wish the club all the best for the rest of the season."

While it's brutal to say goodbye and move on so fast, these things tend to move on quickly, so who should be appointed next?

Get in touch with your views here

Listen to BBC Radio WM take calls from fans from 16:15 GMT on Sunday