Wolves sack Gary O’Neil after fiery on-pitch clashes and Ipswich loss | Football | Sport

Wolves have reportedly sacked Gary O’Neil with the club 19th in the Premier League table, after a 2-1 defeat at home to Ipswich proved to be the final straw.

The 41-year-old, who headed to Molineux after leaving Bournemouth last year, was given a stay of execution having suffered defeat to West Ham in a match dubbed ‘El Sackico’.

But he survived just for a few more days, with Wolves deciding to sack O’Neil less than 24 hours after their last-minute agonising loss at home to relegation rivals Ipswich.

Former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was spotted in the stadium to witness O’Neil’s last match in charge, fueling speculation that he could take over, but the Englishman believed that he had the backing of the board.

“The people above me are supportive,” O’Neil claimed. “But of course the supporters want their football club to be successful. I understand them pointing the finger at me and it’s my team and I have to take responsibility, but when I arrived at this football club they had picked up just [41] points in the Premier League.

“Since that moment, we have managed to make £200m in player sales. We have sold an awful lot of players if you go back to Ruben Neves, Joao Moutinho, Daniel Podence, Adama Traore, Raul Jimenez, Diego Costa, Pedro Neto and Max Kilman.

“And then we’re not now shopping in that market, we’re looking for the other ones who are for the future that can help us in the now. As we’re finding in the Premier League, it’s a ruthless league.

“The group are doing everything we can to get up to speed. But I’m really proud of them. I know we have only nine points and we’re in a tough spot in the league but they’re giving everything. So I hope the supporters are still proud from the players even though they hate the position we’re in.

“They won’t hate it more than me. I’m right there with them, whether they know it or not. We won’t give up and we’ll keep pushing. A big game against Ipswich is coming. And hopefully a few of the little bits, our bits, the bits from the officials go our way.”