GARY O’NEIL has assured Wolves chiefs he can still save their season – and will remain in charge for Saturday’s crunch relegation dogfight against Ipswich Town.
Many supporters believed Monday night’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers West Ham would sound the death knell for O’Neil’s 16-month reign at Molineux.
However, Wolves‘ leadership team continue to back their beleaguered boss and do not blame him totally for their poor run of results.
Since they crashed out of the FA Cup to Coventry City in March, Wolves have been in freefall, winning just three of their last 25 games.
However, the Board accepted O’Neil has been fighting with one arm tied behind his back after they sold skipper Max Kilman and star forward Pedro Neto for £94million last summer – without providing adequate replacements.
The under-fire 41-year-old will remain in charge for Saturday’s crucial relegation dogfight at home to Ipswich Town and, barring a disaster, he will also take the team to Leicester City the following Sunday.
O’Neil believes he can give sceptical supporters an early Christmas present by taking something from both games.
Wolves want to give him every chance of succeeding and will put out all the stops to strengthen a wafer-thin squad in January.
The Wolves Board remain convinced O’Neil can ride out the current storm and are prepared to back him despite the growing unrest among the club’s support.
Three successive defeats leaves Wolves deep in trouble in the relegation zone but O’Neil believes the next two games are crucial.
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“The club has been through an incredible transition since I came in,” said O’Neil after Monday’s defeat by the Hammers.
“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 but we will knuckle down and get going again.”
