Sky Sports pundit breaks silence on rejecting Premier League job this season

One of Sky Sports' pundits spoke about turning down a Premier League job this season after working on a match this weekend and explained why they made that decision

Gary O'Neil has explained that returning to Wolverhampton Wanderers was not the right move for him after speaking with the Premier League club. Wolves sacked O'Neil last December, but he was considered a contender to replace Vitor Pereira before removing himself from the running.

They have since agreed terms with Middlesbrough after approaching the Championship club to speak with their head coach, Rob Edwards. O'Neil is now said to be in pole position to succeed Will Still at Southampton.

Edwards getting the Wolves job would also open up a vacancy at Boro, a club O'Neil made 120 appearances for during his playing career. Another of his former employers in Norwich City, are also in need of a new head coach after sacking Liam Manning on Saturday.

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O'Neil was working as a pundit on Sky Sports hours later as Wolves played Chelsea. He spoke at length about the news this week after that match.

"I spoke to the football club [Wolves]; it's a football club I still have huge emotion for," O'Neil said.

"I love the fanbase. We had some very, very good times together, we had some tough moments, but great fans, loved my time there; some people there that I'm very fond of.

"It just didn't feel like the right time or right fit for me at this moment. But a great club that someone's going to get hold of and gonna have a right go this season, and start to try and build something with.

O'Neil explained: "I've been very patient since I've come out. I've had conversations with lots of people at different clubs.

"I want to make sure that we get the next one that feels right for me at this moment. There are a lot of things that go into that, and this week, I just decided that this one wasn't right for me at this time.

He added: "That wasn't something that put me off; the going back wasn't a problem. I back myself to do well in any role that you go into next, but we have been patient for a reason; we're trying to find one that we think ticks some boxes for us, and this one wasn't it.

O'Neil, however, believes that Wolves could still retain their Premier League status this season. "I think there's a lot of work to do, of course," he acknowledged, "but they turned it around last season.

"Julen Lopetegui turned it around two seasons ago. People had us written off when we managed to get to eight and to the quarter-final of the FA Cup. This club is known for fighting and finding a way, but it is going to take some work, of course.

"James [Collins] is an excellent coach. I think he handled himself very, very well in difficult circumstances this evening. Now, hopefully, by the time the next game comes around, they'll have a permanent manager in charge and a direction.

Asked whether he had any advice for Edwards, O'Neil said: "It would be unfair of me to offer Rob advice. Rob has done great in clubs he's been at, and he will have his own ideas on what's best to do with this group; obviously, Middlesbrough have done fairly well this season.

"So I'm sure Rob will have watched that [the Chelsea match]; he knows the club, he'll have a good understanding of the group, and he'll have his own ideas on how to get the best out of them."

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