David Ornstein reveals three names who could replace Vitor Pereira at Wolves | OneFootball

Wolves circle back to familiar leaders in pivotal survival search

Credit goes to David Ornstein for The Athletic for revealing a fascinating twist in Wolverhampton Wanderers’ managerial hunt. When a club finds itself eight points adrift of safety after a winless 10 game start, every decision carries the weight of a stadium’s hopes and a region’s identity. Wolves are staring into the abyss after the 3-0 defeat to Fulham and Vitor Pereira’s departure only 45 days after signing a contract to 2028 has sent shockwaves through Molineux.

This is a club craving stability, yet considering an unconventional route to it. Ornstein reports Wolves are exploring a dramatic return for Gary O’Neil, noting that he is “among multiple options being discussed internally after Pereira was dismissed on Sunday.” O’Neil’s removal less than a year ago now feels like a decision made with too much haste and too little patience.

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Familiar faces and measured risks

Rob Edwards and Michael Carrick join O’Neil on the shortlist. The intrigue lies in their contrasting trajectories. Edwards has Middlesbrough sitting second in the Championship and carries emotional DNA from his time as a Wolves defender and coach. As Ornstein writes, “Edwards has a strong connection to Molineux from his time there as a player and youth coach.” His tactical growth, combined with his promotion success at Luton, makes him a compelling yet logistically costly choice.

Carrick ticks another box entirely. Freed from Middlesbrough duties in the summer, his debut campaign saw Boro rocket from the relegation zone to the playoffs. There is tactical clarity in his work, a willingness to trust youth and an emphasis on midfield control. Yet like O’Neil, he enters this conversation unemployed and waiting for the right call.

O’Neil in context

O’Neil’s previous spell merits scrutiny rather than sentimentality. He lifted Wolves to 14th in his first season after Julen Lopetegui’s sudden exit, only to gather six points from 19 matches before his dismissal. “He led the club to 14th in the Premier League during his first season in charge,” Ornstein reminds, but the subsequent collapse haunts his case. Was it managerial downturn or structural failure behind him? The distinction is vital if Wolves are to justify a reunion.

Urgency meets identity crisis

Wolves will not rush, yet cannot dawdle. Chelsea await on Saturday and interim stewardship via academy leads James Collins and Richard Walker offers only short term cover. The next appointment must be aligned with squad construction, academy development and financial reality, as Wolves are now living the consequences of rapid churn in leadership structures.

In truth, none of these candidates offer a magic formula, only different versions of realism. What Wolves choose will say everything about how they see themselves, not only this season but into the era beyond Premier League jeopardy.

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A worried Wolves supporter would feel that familiar knot in the stomach tightening once more. This situation has begun to resemble the club’s wilderness periods in the late 2000s, where managerial roulette left the side drifting. Bringing Gary O’Neil back feels like reopening a chapter that the club tore out too quickly, yet also a step tinged with desperation. There are supporters saying, “We never should have sacked him in the first place,” while others fear repeating mistakes by looking backward instead of forward.

Rob Edwards brings hope because he understands Wolverhampton, the culture, the grit. However, Wolves fans know what happens when heart overrules head in the wrong moment. Luton’s drop after his exit and the compensation issue raise eyebrows. As one imaginary fan might sigh, “We have tried emotional decisions, look where it got us.”

Michael Carrick offers modern ideas, yet Wolves fans remember other bright thinkers who walked into chaos and could not swim. The fear here is not ambition, it is survival. With eight points to claw back, style becomes a luxury. Wolves need steel, clarity, belief and results immediately. Fans can almost feel the ticking clock echo around Molineux.

There remains optimism in pockets of the fanbase, embers refusing to die out. Yet with survival hanging by a thread, every choice feels like a season defining gamble. The worry is not only about the next manager, but what this chaos signals about the club’s future direction. If Wolves stumble again, the Premier League trapdoor will swing open.