Sporting director Matt Hobbs has discussed the recruitment process and appointment of new Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil.
Wolves have hired the 40-year-old as their new coach ahead of the 2023/24 Premier League season, following his successful spell at AFC Bournemouth last year, and he joins having impressed Hobbs and senior staff with his attention to detail during the interview process.
Hobbs has spent the past ten days searching for Julen Lopetegui’s successor, and after considering a number of candidates, was left with no doubt after meeting with O’Neil and hearing his plans to take Wolves forward, leading a new chapter at Molineux.
On the process behind the head coach change, Hobbs said: “I had a conversation with Julen in the tunnel after the Celtic game. He was honest with his opinion and what he thought should happen. What was great was he was happy for us to take our time and interview other candidates and he was willing to wait until we found the right person, continuing to work and prepare the team properly.
“The way he and his staff worked during that period tells you everything you need to know about them. It’s allowed us time to go through a thorough process. It’s an opportunity to do something different with a young, up and coming British coach and from the people we met, Gary was clearly the right person from very early into his presentation.
“His attention to detail, thoroughness and history of developing players impressed us – he’s worked with both young and experienced players and understands the process. The detail he showed with his tactical work, including against us last year, gives you confidence about the work he and his staff put into every game.
“He has his way of playing, what he wants to do, but he tweaks it for each opposition and understands he has to change patterns of games to create opportunities. He’s very forward thinking, very driven, like he has a point to prove because he did a great job at Bournemouth. I came away feeling very excited and optimistic after the interview. I’m pleased to have him on board.
“He showed good knowledge of our squad and how it works within his principles. Like any new manager, it’ll take time to get used to the players and understand them, not only on a tactical level. Part of our decision was if he fits to our squad, because we don’t want to rebuild a squad, we want to keep our principles going forward now, so we can have a long-term strategy.”
Hobbs and Wolves pride themselves on the due diligence put in ahead of any potential new arrival to the club and he used his contacts in the game to gather references on O’Neil, to accompany his own thoughts following the interview process.
“Like I talk about with players, we try to get a lot of references. Trying to do it for head coaches is tougher, but we’ve had numerous references from staff who’ve worked alongside him, staff around the club to get a feel for him as a person and players he’s coached at Liverpool and Bournemouth, the ones who played every week and ones who couldn’t get in the team.
“Everything’s been positive. Everyone talks about his man management skills, bringing everything together and his support staff have worked on that too. He’s good in youth development and has Premier League experience.”
Now, with the new Premier League season beginning this weekend, O’Neil will turn to making an immediate impact on the squad, which will be aided by the senior leadership group in the dressing room. The recently appointed group speak on behalf of the first-team and drive standards, and Hobbs is confident they’ll give the new head coach their full support.
“When a manager comes into a playing group, you need their buy in, and in the past maybe that would have been harder, but the leadership group we’ve got have done a great job of managing the dressing room and keeping it upbeat. It’s as good an atmosphere as I’ve known since I’ve been at the club.
“The leadership group will embrace and support the manager and help get his message across. I don’t have a single worry about that and I’ve been talking to some players during the process, to make sure they’re in the loop. Everyone trusts in the club and the process we’ve been through, so we’re excited to work with him.”
O’Neil will now try to channel that positivity into the season opener at Manchester United on Monday. Although Hobbs admits time will be required to allow the new head coach to make his mark on the group, O’Neil’s dedication to his work will leave him in the best possible position to hit the ground running, the sporting director believes.
“One thing I can tell from his interviews is he works with huge intensity and diligence. I know he’s already been working while we’ve been negotiating, so he’ll be ready to go. Like any of us when you start a new job, you get your head down and start working, and he has a lot to do on and off the pitch. He has a lot of people to meet but isn’t bringing a large staff, which is a positive because we’ve got a lot of good people here. I’m excited by what he can do with this team.
“If I have a message for our supporters, it would be that it’s OK to feel sad and disappointed about Julen’s departure, but at the same time it’s OK to be optimistic because I genuinely feel this is an exciting and progressive appointment for the club.”
