Former Wolves boss is shock contender to replace sacked Vitor Pereira, with Ruben Amorim’s Sporting Lisbon replacement also in the frame

Daily Mail Sport understands Gary O’Neil could make a sensational return to Wolves less than a year after he was sacked.

The Black Country club parted ways with 57-year-old Vitor Pereira this morning after a poor start to the season.

Wolves are rock bottom in the Premier League after failing to win a single of their first 10 games.

The club’s hierarchy have now begun searching for Pereira’s successor and O’Neil is understood to be one of those being considered to take over at Molineux.

The Englishman was sacked by chairman Jeff Shi last December, when Wolves were 19th in the Premier League after winning just two of their first 15 games. He has been unemployed ever since.

Sporting Lisbon boss Rui Borges, who previously worked under Ruben Amorim, is another executive linked to the job. He won the Primeira Liga title last season after taking over in the Portuguese capital a year ago.

The Black Country club sit bottom of the Premier League after a dismal start to the season

Gary O’Neil, who was sacked by the club last December, is understood to be one of the managers in the running for the job.

However, it is thought that in order to secure Borges’ services, the Premier League side will have to pay Sporting a compensation package.

Current Middlesbrough boss Rob Edwards is also in the running for the role but Wolves will need to pay a separate fee to bring him from the Championship club.

Edwards would likely be a popular appointment among the disgruntled Wolves fanbase, having played for the club for four seasons between 2004 and 2008.

Pereira’s last match as manager was played yesterday at Fulham; the team looked devoid of ideas and confidence and lost 3-0.

He becomes the fourth senior manager to be sacked this season despite signing a new three-year deal just weeks ago.

Wolves announced his sacking in a 188-word statement issued by club chairman Jeff Shi on Sunday: ‘Vitor and his team have worked tirelessly for Wolves and guided us through a difficult period last season and for that we are grateful.

‘Unfortunately the start of this season has been a disappointment and despite our strong desire to give the manager time and games to find an improvement, we have reached a point where we need to make changes.

‘We thank Vitor and his team for their efforts and wish them the best for the future.’

It is understood that Ruben Amorim’s successor at Sporting Lisbon, Rui Borges, is also in the picture

So does Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards, who played for Wolves between 2004 and 2008.

In the statement, the Premier League club also announced that ‘under-21 head coach James Collins and under-18 head coach Richard Walker will be training as the club finalizes the appointment of a new first-team head coach.’

Pereira arrived in the Black Country last December and guided the club out of trouble to 16th in the table.

The following summer saw significant turmoil in the squad, with the likes of Matheus Cunha, Rayan Ait-Nouri and Nelson Semedo among the key names leaving Molineux.

A poor start to the season that left the club six points behind increased the pressure on Pereira and defeat at Fulham was the final straw.