Steve Sidwell has apparently been told that Gary O’Neil is a contender to be the next manager at West Ham.
O’Neil, 40, did well at Bournemouth by keeping them in the Premier League last season before joining Wolves in the summer.
The ex-West Ham midfielder has done well in the West Midlands, becoming only the second English manager to beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the Premier League.
David Moyes’ future is under constant speculation at the London Stadium due to his contract expiring at the end of the season and when he does leave, Sidwell believes O’Neil is in the running to replace him.
Speaking on the That Peter Crouch podcast, as transcribed by CaughtOffside on Friday (8 December), Sidwell said: “Big shout out to Gary O’Neil because going in there before the season starts, stamping his authority.”
Crouch replied: “He looks good, doesn’t he?”
Ex-Fulham midfielder Sidwell then replied: “He looks really good. From my insiders, the horse whisperer, he could be a shoo-in at West Ham.”
Crouch said that O’Neil moving to Wets Ham is a “great shout” before Chris Stark asked: “Have you heard something?”
Sky Sports pundit Sidwell then replied cryptically: “I mean…”
Putting two and two together?
It seems like a case of an easy link being made here.
O’Neil is a young English manager who’s doing well at his current club and he also used to play for West Ham.
It’s an easy enough link to make, isn’t it?
We have no idea who Sidwell’s sources apparently are but this is definitely something to take with a pinch of salt because a whole manner of things could happen in the coming months.
Wolves’ form could drop off a cliff, Moyes could get a new contract, the Scot could be sacked in the coming days, et cetera.
Wolves won’t let O’Neil go easily because he’s doing well with them and they’ll no doubt see value in the Beckenham-born former Irons midfielder.
For now though, West Ham are doing well enough in the Premier League and in Europe.
Fans are disgruntled with the style of play but ultimately, Moyes is picking up results and we’re on course for a good run in Europe, we’re in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals and the Premier League is looking fairly decent right now too.
