Wolves outline January plans ahead of crucial transfer window

Wolves failed to sign experienced replacements for Max Kilman and Pedro Neto in the summer and the team have struggled with 10 defeats in 15 games.

The club are targeting a centre-back and O'Neil says they will act quickly to improve the group.

"January will be very different," the head coach said.

"Jeff and Matt (Hobbs) have been very good, if we think things aren't working we're happy to revisit it and make sure changes are made.

"January will be important for us, but my focus now is on this group and how much we can get out of them.

"I'm excited for this group to prove everybody wrong and change the situation, regardless of what January looks like."

O'Neil added: "Everybody is aware that we've lost regular starters and we've tried to replenish from underneath.

"There is now definitely more of a focus on putting in some players that can help the starting XI right now. That's important for us in January.

"Especially in areas where we've suffered some bad luck, with losing Yerson Mosquera (to injury).

"There is a real focus from the recruitment department and upstairs on January, and trying to get everything well organised to make sure we help ourselves as early as possible."

When asked if money will be available from owners Fosun when the transfer window opens in January, O'Neil said: "I haven't had loads of discussions with the guys upstairs about this, but they assure us they will do their very best to help the group as much as they possibly can in January.

"The recruitment team, Matt Hobbs and myself will all be involved in that process.

"What the team needs is very clear. I'm very clear on it and Matt is too.

"The work has already started to get things in place so we can do things fairly quickly.

"My input into what we need is important to them." 

O'Neil has been under immense pressure in recent weeks with Wolves 19th in the table.

The club began sounding out potential replacements before sticking with O'Neil and chairman Jeff Shi has since publicly backed the head coach in his exclusive Express & Star column this week.

And O'Neil admits if it was not for Wolves' recruitment struggles in the summer, he may not be in the job.

"I've always been in contact with Matt and Jeff and the situation we've been in, everyone is aware of," O'Neil said when asked about that column.

"I'm pretty sure that if we'd been free-spending, I'd have lost my job a while ago, but that's not the situation that we're in.

"I understand the importance of results and we're working extremely hard to improve them.

"But there's always been an understanding and realism attached to where we are. 

"Obviously we need to do better, but we've had good conversations with Matt and Jeff about what we do now, what we do in January and the direction we try to push the club in."