- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
HITC understands that Gary O’Neil has no interest in becoming a coach after being linked with Manchester United.
It is understood that Manchester United’s new minority owners INEOS are looking at all aspects of how to improve the club and one of those is possible coaching additions, and O’Neil is a name that has come to prominence.
However, sources close to Gary O’Neil have confirmed that the current Wolves manager has no interest in dropping back down to being a coach.
The 40-year-old has done a sterling job in the Midlands given the circumstances he walked into.
He took charge days before the 2023/24 season began, after Julen Lopetegui’s sudden exit, with no pre-season, no signings of his own, as well as players like Ruben Neves and Matheus Nunes departing.
Yet, fast forward to the present, and Wolves are three points behind a European place and six points behind Manchester United in the Premier League table.
Gary O’Neil has caught the eye of West Ham United and Brighton
O’Neil’s performance at Molineux has caught the attention of a number of Premier League rivals and HITC has previously revealed, West Ham are looking closely at him as a potential replacement for David Moyes – who they are ready to move on from this summer.
HITC also understands that Brighton are impressed with O’Neil – with his results showing up very well in analytical assessment.
Unlike West Ham, Brighton are not looking to move on from their current manager Roberto De Zerbi – but given he is attracting interest from the likes of Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Liverpool – they may not be able to hang onto him.
As such HITC is being told that Brighton are doing their due diligence, should they need to find a new boss, and O’Neil is one that has shown up strong on their radar.
Brighton themselves are pushing for European football – they secured Europa League football for the first time in their history last season, but were smashed out of the knockout stages by Roma this month.
Now they sit eighth in the table, one point and one place above Wolves.