Gary O’Neil’s talks with Norwich City have cooled as the 42-year-old prefers to wait for the ideal opportunity to return to management, paving the way for Philippe Clement’s arrival.
According to the Express & Star, the former Wolves manager spoke with the Canaries, but the likelihood of his arrival dropped drastically after the conversation.
O’Neil has been out of employment for nearly a year, having been fired by Wolves last December following a terrible start to the season.
Despite only hiring Liam Manning in the summer, the Norfolk club has had a poor start to the season, prompting the decision to break ways with him.
During his time with Norwich, he oversaw only two Championship wins, and the club is now buried in a relegation battle as it enters the difficult winter season.
Gary O’Neil explains why Norwich City negotiations have cooled.
O’Neil has reportedly opted to be patient and wait for the proper chance before returning to management.
The former midfielder has recently been linked with a variety of Championship clubs, including the possibility of returning to Wolves.
However, he is still unemployed than a year after leaving Molineux, with Middlesbrough being another team rumored to be interested in him.
O’Neil even went so far as to schedule an interview with Norwich as part of their hiring process, but interest appears to have waned.
The Canaries have already confirmed the appointment of former Rangers manager Clement, while Middlesbrough is connected with the signing of Kim Hellberg.
It remains to be seen what type of position O’Neil is looking for, and returning to the Premier League may still be his top objective at this point.
Before joining Wolves, the 42-year-old worked in the Premier League for Bournemouth.
It’s no wonder Gary O’Neil would prefer to stay patient than jump in at Norwich.
Norwich are in a relegation battle at the bottom of the Championship table, lying 23rd, so moving to Carrow Road isn’t the most tempting of tasks at this point for O’Neil.
While he has a connection to the club from his time as a player, it is unlikely to be enough to persuade him given his past managing experience in the Premier League.
So it’s no surprise that he’s ready to wait for something with more immediate potential.
Norwich have definitely moved on to Clement, who has the potential to be a significant addition to the club, therefore O’Neil’s return to Carrow Road should still be an option.
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