Wolverhampton Wanderers

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport journalist

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Ipswich (kick-off 15:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Mario Lemina has been replaced as captain by Nelson Semedo following discussions between O'Neil, Lemina and senior players earlier this week. O'Neil said: "Sometimes these things can be tough to deal with and sometimes you can come out of them in a good spot, and I feel like we have. I have a lot of respect for Mario. When we get the best out of him on the pitch, his level is so high that he's still going to play a very big part for us, which he's still extremely keen to do."

• O'Neil said of the incidents involving Lemina after full-time at West Ham on Monday: "What happened after the game can't happen. We all understand that emotions can rise, that we're in a tough moment and everyone's fighting and giving everything under big stress and pressure. But they're scenes we won't see again, definitely."

• O'Neil has been publicly backed by chairman Jeff Shi following speculation over his position: "I've always been in contact with Matt [Hobbs, sporting director] and Jeff, and the situation we've been in, everyone here is aware of. If I'd been put into a situation where we were free-spending, I was cherry-picking Premier League players and we'd won three games in whatever it is, I'd have lost my job a while ago. But the situation we're in is very different to that."

• He continued: "I understand the importance of results and we're working hard to improve them. Of course we need to do better - nobody wants to be on nine points after 15 games - but there have been good conversations with Matt and Jeff about what we do now, what we do with January approaching and the direction that we try to push the club in."

• On whether lessons have been learned about the club's transfer strategy heading into the January window: "January will be very different. Whether that's a lesson learned or it's just an adjustment, these things always evolve. But my focus is on this group and how much we can get out of them. I'm excited to get them going again for tomorrow and I'm excited for this group to prove everybody wrong and change the situation."

• Jose Sa and Pablo Sarabia remain out with injury for the visit of Ipswich, while Joao Gomes is suspended.

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Despite remaining in charge, it still seems like the end game for Gary O'Neil at Wolves.

Getting a victory against Ipswich on Saturday was already going to be vital but after Monday's defeat at West Ham, it has become paramount.

A win would move Wolves to within a point of 17th-placed Crystal Palace, who travel to Brighton on Sunday, and three points clear of the Tractor Boys.

Victory would put a plaster over the wound. It would not fix a problem and it feels the next damaging defeat would spell the end regardless.

An Ipswich win would see the atmosphere at Molineux become toxic and leave O'Neil - who faces the media this afternoon - in an untenable position, given he has lost the support of the majority of fans.

It feels like he is the caretaker for his own job, with Wolves unable to find a suitable successor, and has been put in an unsustainable position.

O'Neil, a decent man and a good coach, deserves better than a drawn out exit.

Image source, PA Media

Excluding penalties, Wolves have conceded a league-high 15 goals from set-piece situations this season. Only in their relegation campaigns of 2003-04 (20) and 2011-12 (18) have they conceded more such goals in a Premier League season.

At home, they have conceded 34 goals in 16 Premier League games in 2024 so far. The last time they conceded more home league goals in a year was in 2012 (47 in 23 games), which is the only other year in the club's history they have conceded at a rate of two or more goals per game at Molineux.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves chairman Jeff Shi has backed under-fire manager Gary O'Neil but admitted it is "essential" that results improve.

The head coach has been under increasing pressure following two wins from the opening 15 games.

Three straight defeats looked to have put him on the brink but Wolves are standing by the 41-year-old ahead of Saturday's visit of fellow strugglers Ipswich.

"I remain grateful to Gary for stepping into such a demanding situation just days before the beginning of a new season [when he replaced Julen Lopetegui in August 2023], and for his commitment to the club every day since then," Shi wrote in his Wolverhampton Express & Star column, external.

"While he knows that improving our results quickly is essential for everyone associated with the football club, we are united in supporting him as all of us strive to make that progress happen."

Wolves are second bottom of the Premier League but would move three points above Ipswich with a win and would be just a point behind 17th-placed Crystal Palace, who go to Brighton on Sunday.

"Since Fosun's ownership began in 2016, Wolves have seen incredible highs and endured tough lows," continued Shi. "Throughout this time, success or failure has never been down to a single individual - it has always been about the collective. Football is, at its core, a team sport, and that principle extends beyond the pitch.

"Business sense plays a key role in all our decisions, with our strategy and operations constantly evolving to adapt to the ever-changing football industry and global landscape.

"Of course, this year, injuries to key players have also been particularly challenging, and I hope for better fortune in 2025. Yet, it is during testing times like these that the true character of a team is revealed."

Wolves could be forced to sell one of their star players in January to avoid a potential profit and sustainability breach. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer news? Read Friday's full gossip column

Mike Taylor
BBC Radio WM reporter

Image source, Getty Images

It is not exactly a vote of confidence - nothing having been said on the record. Perhaps it is a vote of no confidence in the alternatives? Or, more pointedly, a vote of no confidence by any potential alternative candidates for Wolves. 

Whatever you call it, the outcome of the various briefings over the past few days is that Gary O'Neil will be in charge for the home game against Ipswich on Saturday and, beyond that, into the January transfer window. Unless… unless what? 

As my local-reporting colleague Liam Keen of the Express and Star wrote pithily on Tuesday, external, O'Neil "will take charge of the team at Molineux on Saturday, unless chairman Jeff Shi has a late change of heart."

You could just about argue that in a world where any manager is perceived to be under pressure after a handful of dodgy results, O'Neil's situation therefore passes for normal, or football-normal.

This might be true had those sources piped up in defence before Monday night's game at West Ham. Before that match, the narrative was that Wolves were not merely thinking about - but had gone so far as to contact a number of potential new head coaches.

In the event, 'El Sackico' turned out to be no more than a crude label for a slow-paced, nervous game in a muted atmosphere. A goalless draw, and salvation for nobody seemed likely until a depressingly familiar Wolves sequence in the second half: defensive clanger; spirited response; contentious decision goes the wrong way... defeat.

O'Neil, who remains his own most eloquent advocate, delivered what sounded like his closing speech to the jury as he listed all the senior players who have left since he took over. It is also right to say that, unlike in similar situations, his players have clearly been fighting for him. Their defeats can be attributed to many things, but not a noticeable lack of effort. Just as well, as the news of the search for a replacement would have given a less-committed squad cover to down tools.

So, to Saturday: a game Wolves would normally be expected to win, and which their league position demands they really must. It is to be played in front of an increasingly disillusioned home support. If they lose, then what?

Come to think of it, what happens if they win, and afterwards one of the many coaches Wolves have been sounding out recently changes his mind – as Julen Lopetegui did two years ago – and returns their call?

Listen to full commentary of Wolves v Ipswich (15:00) on Saturday on BBC Radio WM (95.6FM)

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Wolves are keen on extending the contract of Portugal right-back Nelson Semedo, 31. (Express & Star), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Thursday's full gossip column

Image source, Getty Images

Jorgen Strand Larsen has been involved in six goals - five goals and one assist - in seven home Premier League appearances for Wolves.

He is yet to end on the winning side in any home game when he has scored, with only Dougie Freedman (six games) and Vitaly Janelt (five) scoring in more home games without winning in Premier League history.

Nick Mashiter
BBC Sport football news reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Boss Gary O'Neil remains in charge of Wolves but the focus will quickly shift from him if the decision does not pay off.

By sticking with the under-pressure manager, it leaves chairman Jeff Shi, sporting director Matt Hobbs and owners Fosun open to more fierce criticism from supporters.

The pair are already under the spotlight for this season's struggles given owners Fosun's recent decision to rein in the spending.

That came after years of heavy investment and they wrote off a £126.5m loan in the 2020-21 accounts.

The club lost £46 million in the 2021-22 financial year and then £67.2m for the year ending 31 May 2023 with Wolves just coming under the maximum £105m loss over a rolling three-season period within profit and sustainability rules.

O'Neil cited the £200m of sales [Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes, Max Kilman and Pedro Neto] after Monday's 2-1 defeat at West Ham and, earlier this season, said if clubs sell their best players and fail to replace them they will be weaker.

That has been the case with Wolves unable to bring in a much-needed defender in the summer and they will now target a centre-back during next month's transfer window.

While O'Neil will be the focal point of any fans' anger - especially if Wolves fail to beat Ipswich at Molineux on Saturday - Fosun must now expect the already mounting pressure on them to increase if Wolves' struggles continue.

Image source, Getty Images

Captain Mario Lemina has apologised to Wolves fans but claimed he "just reacted to a situation" in an altercation with Jarrod Bowen after the defeat at West Ham on Monday.

The away side felt aggrieved by a number of decisions in their 2-1 loss to the Hammers and Lemina visibly let his frustration boil over at full-time.

The 31-year-old midfielder was involved in a heated confrontation with Bowen, who scored the winning goal, which resulted in a booking and other players dragging Lemina away from the England forward.

In a post on his Instagram story, the Gabon international said: "I write this message with great hindsight. And I really want to apologise to all the people who love this club and who love football.

"I never wanted this to happen on the ground. I have always been a fair player, even in defeat. If something is said, make sure the truth comes out. I shook this player's hand, like I always do. And I was grabbed by the shirt and thrown to the ground. I just reacted to a situation that I didn't cause at all.

"I love my team, the staff and all the people who make up this club. We are all going to fight harder to overcome this situation."

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves head coach Gary O'Neil has reiterated his belief that he is the right man for the job, and believes he is a better coach after learning "an awful lot" in the past year.

Speaking after the club's loss to West Ham on Monday, O'Neil spoke about what he has already achieved at the club, saying: "I understand the noise and scrutiny, but when I arrived at this football club, it had just achieved 39 points in the Premier League.

"This summer we lose our captain, Max Kilman, and Pedro Neto for a combined £100m and we sign a load of young lads, who will be great for the club in the future. That is where the football club is."

Despite being in the running for the Premier League manager of the month for November, O'Neil's side have lost their past three games, conceding 10 goals in the process.

But O'Neil added: "I'm confident we can turn it around. It's not my decision but I know I'm a better coach then I was last year. I've learned an awful lot.

"All I can ask the group is to be the best version of themselves. I know I can get the best out of this group."

Should Wolves stick with O'Neil? Let us know in our poll

Image source, Getty Images

Former Wolves striker Jay Bothroyd has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast about the future of Gary O'Neil after Wolves' 2-1 defeat at West Ham.

"If you're spending a lot of money bringing in and replacing those players that you've let go [in the summer] then fine," he said.

"Ultimately every time you lose your top players you're going to decline in quality within the squad.

"I don't blame Gary O'Neil. He's got his players working hard, there's no question about that.

"Even last night, right until the end, they still believed. It's just those little details and conceding goals.

"It was really disheartening for me to watch as an ex-Wolves player. I really enjoyed playing there. To see them in this situation - they have top players, it just hasn't happened for them right now."

Wolves fan and host of The Wolves Report podcast Ryan Leister also spoke about the future of the head coach and questioned whether the club could find a better replacement.

"I don't think many of the managers would have survived a run like Gary O'Neil's on now. But could Wolves do better than Gary O'Neil? I'm not sure they could. Does O'Neil deserve to be in charge? I'm not sure that he does," he said.

"But, equally, you have to look higher above than O'Neil. If you keep selling your best players every summer and expect the club to try to retain Premier League status, I think it's a bit ambitious from the owners.

"[Pedro] Neto went. [Max] Kilman went. If this is going to continue then Wolves should expect to be where they are now.

"I have sympathy for O'Neil but, equally, I think he should be doing better as well."

Dazzling Dave
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Sorry, Gary, but your time is up. O'Neil seems like an amicable person, but football is a results-driven sport. Wolves have reached a point where change is no longer optional - it is essential.

Despite moments of tactical insight, his tenure has faltered under mounting issues that can no longer be ignored.

The result carries an air of grim irony, with O'Neil's side losing to his former club - and former Wolves manager Julen Lopetegui. West Ham's London Stadium is also the place where the reign of Bruno Lage, Lopetegui's predecessor at Molineux, ended.

The goodwill O'Neil earned last season has hidden deeper issues in the squad.

Patience is gone, especially after the Everton meltdown, which should have been the breaking point. For many, the West Ham match serves as nothing more than an unnecessary delay.

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Wolves remain a side riddled with the same weaknesses they had at the start of the season. Defensive fragility, catastrophic errors in set-piece situations, and a lack of cohesion have continuously plagued the team.

Wolves have talented players but, under O'Neil, they have become a disjointed group of individuals.

The problems are too glaring to ignore, and O'Neil has done little to suggest he can turn things around. Progress has been non-existent.

West Ham should mark the end of his Wolves tenure - even if we had won. A reset is critical for survival, and Wolves must act decisively before it is too late.

O'Neil is not solely to blame for Wolves' struggles and the club's hierarchy must also face scrutiny for their role in the decline.

An overemphasis on signing players as long-term investments, rather than addressing immediate needs, has left the current squad ill-equipped to compete.

Fosun's self-sustainability model, while pragmatic in theory, has been a significant contributor to this predicament.

If Wolves are to reverse their downward trajectory, the owners must urgently reassess their level of commitment and strategy for the club's future.

Maybe a new manager with fresh ideas can turn things around, but currently we look like a team heading for the Championship.

Find more from Dazzling Dave at Always Wolves, external

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Three successive defeats leaves Wolves deep in trouble in the relegation zone - but there is hope around the corner.

On Saturday they are at home to fellow strugglers Ipswich - who have managed just one win in 15 Premier League games so far - before they travel to Leicester, who are 17th and four points above the relegation zone.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher said: "You look at the fixture list and sometimes the club might think whether they want to bring a new manager in and it will be some decent games for the new man to start with. That will be in the back of Gary O'Neil's mind.

"If everything goes well against Ipswich Town and Leicester City in the next two games, they could be out of the bottom three.

"O'Neil will be desperate for that chance to rectify what has happened this season."

Should Wolves keep faith with O'Neil? Let us know in our poll

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves appointed Gary O'Neil in August last year, replacing current West Ham boss Lopetegui, and he ensured they finished comfortably clear of relegation in his first season.

In the summer, Wolves sold defender Max Kilman to West Ham for £40m and forward Pedro Neto to Chelsea in a £54m deal.

O'Neil identified player departures making his job more difficult.

"The club has been through an incredible transition since I came in," he added.

"We've signed some players who will be really good for this club for the future, but we have lost an awful lot. It makes it harder.

"[Since I've been here] we have lost £200m worth of talent. We understand it will be tough. We will knuckle down and get going again.

"Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I'll be proud of it."

Gary Rose
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil acknowledged his side's set-piece defending needs to improve, but also felt key decisions went against them in defeat by West Ham at London Stadium.

For the corner that led to the Hammers' opener, the ball appeared to come off West Ham full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka last.

Then, for the Hammers' second, O'Neil felt there had been a foul on Wolves defender Santiago Bueno in the build-up.

Put to him that a new phase of play had started after the potential foul on Bueno, O'Neil told Sky Sports: "That is crazy. He was going to head the ball away, so next phase of play is irrelevant because we would have cleared the ball."

O'Neil also felt his side were not given two penalties, adding: "The foul on Goncalo Guedes was a blatant penalty. There was a little one on [Jean-Ricner Bellegarde] too, it was small contact but enough to make him fall over."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Monday's Premier League game between West Ham and Wolves.

Here are some of your comments:

Jon: It feels like the same story on repeat. We are unable to defend set pieces. We get ourselves back into games only to concede almost immediately. This wasn't the shambles we saw at Everton but, for a club fighting for their life, it wasn't good enough. It was also embarrassing that our captain lost his head after the match and was pushing our own staff. Something needs to change and fast. Our Premier League position looks more precarious than ever. If we fail to beat Ipswich, we are in deep trouble.

Glyn: Again basic defensive mistakes have cost us. The marking of West Ham's best header of the ball was non-existent and the challenge on their best striker was again sadly lacking. There were some good periods of play but we were indecisive in turning the game to our advantage. The play is Championship quality and we will surely go down with this standard of football.

David: Gary O'Neil is neither a good enough manager or a lucky enough manager to fashion a winning team out of what he has. It is a tough ask for an inexperienced manager, made doubly difficult by director of football Matt Hobbs. His failure to acquire what Wolves needed in pre-season is unforgivable. If the manager goes after this depressing performance, Hobbs must go too.

Ben: You can talk about penalties, fixture lists and what ifs until the cows come home. The fact is we have been weak all season and the buck stops at one person's door. Sorry, Gary, your time is done.

Image source, Getty Images

Wolves boss Gary O'Neil, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "We were OK. We were solid and we probably had the better chances. But a lot of decisions went against us. An awful lot of decisions go against us in a big game, in big moments. You need some of them to go your way and you hope they do - but they didn't.

"The lads gave everything. We came up a little bit short again, which has been the story of the past few weeks for us. I'm proud of the players - they're in a tough moment and they're giving everything. They're ready to fight, ready to scrap, ready to come away to West Ham and give them a real good game. We needed to find a way to turn it our way and we didn't quite do that.

"I will try and go in and have a chat with them [officials] to get their thoughts on how it ended up where it was. It's not going to help us. We need to find way to turn the game in our favour. A combination of us not quite doing enough and the decisions go with West Ham [means] we leave with nothing."

On his job: "No I'm not concerned. I am really proud of the group and really proud of everything they've given me, and everything they have done again against West Ham. I can only ask them to do their best.

"They definitely haven't [players lost faith in him]; we are together. I give them big credit for that. They know the situation at the football club and they know some of the difficulties we face. The players and I are 100% connected in trying to do as well as we can.

"At this moment, it isn't quite good enough. There is a long way to go."

Did you know?

• Wolves have conceded a league-high 15 Premier League goals from set-piece situations this season (excluding penalties). Only in their relegation campaigns of 2003-04 (20) and 2011-12 (18) have they conceded more such goals in a season in the competition.