Wolves chairman Jeff Shi has publicly backed manager Gary O’Neil, insiting the club are “united” in supporting the under-pressure boss.
The Midlands club are 19th in the Premier League after winning only two of their 15 league games this season and have lost each of their last three against Bournemouth, Everton and West Ham.
Monday’s 2-1 loss at the London Stadium led many to assume the worst for O’Neil as fans begin to turn on the 41-year-old but Shi insists club chiefs are still behind him.
Writing in his column for the Express and Star, he said: “I don’t need to familiarise supporters with what happened next in the summer of 2023, they all know it.
“But because of that, the destiny of Gary O’Neil and Wolves met at an unexpected moment, and I remain grateful to Gary for stepping into such a demanding situation just days before the beginning of a new season, and for his commitment to the club every day since then.
“While he knows that improving our results quickly is essential for everyone associated with the football club, we are united in supporting him as all of us strive to make that progress happen.
“Even in what I believe to be Wolves’ best decade in half a century, tough moments are inevitable. Success isn’t about avoiding challenges; it’s about how we respond to them.”
Wolves’s ownership group Fosun have also been criticised by supporters after selling off key stars such as Ruben Neves, Matheus Nunes and Max Kilman and a lack of reinvestment in the squad.
But Shi has leapt to the defence of the club’s hierarchy, insisting Fosun’s ownership has coincided with one of the most successful in the club’s history.
He added: “I firmly believe we are experiencing one of the most competitive and successful periods in the club’s history.
“Over the last nine years, since Fosun’s ownership began in 2016, Wolves have seen incredible highs and endured tough lows.
“Throughout this time, success or failure has never been down to a single individual – it has always been about the collective.
“Football is, at its core, a team sport, and that principle extends beyond the pitch. Owners are a part of the team, of course, as well as fans. It’s not reasonable to attribute victories solely to those on the pitch or to place frustrations entirely on those working behind the scenes, or vice versa.
“We share success and challenges equally. Business sense plays a key role in all our decisions, with our strategy and operations constantly evolving to adapt to the ever-changing football industry and global landscape.”
