West Ham could appoint Gary O’Neil to replace under-fire Graham Potter | OneFootball

West Ham United are considering hiring Gary O’Neil if they part ways with manager Graham Potter, according to The Independent.

The Hammers have endured a dreadful start to the Premier League season. West Ham’s last outing ended in a damaging 3-0 defeat to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur.

West Ham appointed Potter after his ill-fated Chelsea stint, but he has overseen just six wins in 23 league games.

That return has left patience thin among supporters and the board, and O’Neil is now considered a strong candidate to step in at the London Stadium.

The 42-year-old’s stock remains respectable in Premier League circles after his work with Bournemouth and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He was credited for developing players while stabilising difficult situations, traits that West Ham’s hierarchy feel could transfer well to the current squad.

O’Neil is also a free agent, meaning West Ham would not need to negotiate compensation.

The Beckenham-born manager also has a West Ham connection, having spent two and a half seasons as a midfielder at the club between 2011 and 2013.

That history, combined with his reputation as a tactically adaptable coach, makes him a natural fit on the shortlist.

He guided Bournemouth to safety in 2022/23, defying predictions of relegation with a 15th-place finish. That was not enough to keep his job at the Vitality Stadium.

O’Neil took charge of Wolves and impressed during his first full campaign, keeping the club comfortably above danger despite a turbulent final run of results.

Former Wolves sporting director, Matt Hobbs, described O’Neil as a ‘highly motivated’ young coach (h/t the Guardian).

O’Neil has been out of work since his dismissal in December 2023 at Molineux, but remains highly regarded.