Wolves boss 'disappointed' as key relationship breaks down

Wolves remain in the bottom three after defeat at West Ham, but the club have now backed O'Neil to get the team out of trouble.

The majority of supporters have called for O'Neil to be sacked, something the 41-year-old is disheartened by, but he is eager for the fans to keep supporting his players and help them out of their rut.

"I'm fine, I love these tough moments," O'Neil said when asked how he keeps going in this tough situation.

"I'm really disappointed that I seem to have lost the connection with the fans. I understand them pointing the finger at me, of course I do.

"I'm the one in charge. I'm the one that the team is suffering these results under, but that's my only real disappointment in this.

"I think the fact that they're still so behind the players is fantastic because the players need them more than I do, of course.

"I know that supporting a football club that is not winning football matches is tough. I know it is.

"But I can guarantee them that nobody is doing more for their football club than me in every single moment. There is never a moment's doubt in whether I need to pick myself up or not. It's always, let's go.

"Let's get the lads ready. Let's make sure they're ready to fight. Let's make sure they're ready to give everything."

In a defiant speech in his post-match press conference, O'Neil insisted he will continue to fight to drag Wolves out of trouble and that the players are with him ahead of a crunch clash against Ipswich.

He added: "I've spent my whole life doing that (fighting) for the football club. So whenever it ends, I'll be unbelievably proud of the job that's been done here because no one will understand the situation from outside and why should they, but I know every little detail of what goes on and how hard everyone is working, including people above me like Matt Hobbs, who gives an awful lot also, to try and find a way to be creative in what we do.

"A self-sufficient Premier League club that has made a £140million profit in the last three windows. If it was easy to do that, then the whole of the Premier League would be doing it. So there are some tough restrictions there.

"Everyone, including the players, the young players that are coming through, the senior players that are trying to knit it all together, Matt Hobbs and the recruitment guys that are trying to make it work, are giving everything.

"Of course we come under criticism because all anyone cares about is the fact that it ends 2-1 and the fact that it ended 4-0 and the fact that it ended 4-2, but I know better than that and I know what these players are giving and I know how much they want to do to help the fan base and to help the football club.

"To the very last moment that I'm here, they're going to give everything for me.

"They're devastated in there again for me because they know that it falls on me. They're devastated that they've not been able to put a win on the board for the supporters.

"But I love having to stand up in tough moments. You find out an awful lot about yourself and the people around you when there is some negativity and some noise. I love standing at the front, being in charge of our football team.

"Regardless of noise or songs or whatever it may be that is aimed at me, I'm really proud of a team that he's willing to fight no matter what.

"They've just lost 4-0 to Everton and they know the scrutiny that's on them, but they've just got to give everything again and they'll do the same against Ipswich. So, I'm looking forward to the weekend."