Wolves eye O'Neil and Edwards after Pereira exits

Wolves could turn to their former head coach Gary O'Neil after sacking Vítor Pereira, with Middlesbrough's Rob Edwards another leading candidate.

- Ben Fisher

Pereira was sacked yesterday morning, less than 24 hours after a 3-0 defeat at Fulham as the Wolves hierarchy acknowledged the squad had lost belief in his methods.

Pereira replaced O'Neil last December with the club 19th in the Premier League and Wolves are again at severe risk of relegation, bottom of the division after securing two points from their opening 10 matches.

Wolves's last league win was in April.

Wolves have sounded out O'Neil about a shock return, while they have a longstanding admiration for Edwards, a former Wolves player and under-23s coach who previously took caretaker charge in 2016. Wolves would have to pay compensation to Boro if they were to pursue Edwards.

O'Neil has been out of work since he was sacked but left on reasonable terms and knows many of the squad.

In the summer, Edwards joined Boro, who are second in the Championship, on a three-year contract. Pereira is represented by the super-agent Jorge Mendes, whose Gestifute agency has longstanding links with Wolves.