After guiding Wolves away from the relegation swamp he was deservedly included in the nominations for Manager of the Year. It was an outstanding rescue job that hinted at a bright future.
Towards the end of the season, he held court in a local pub with a cluster of journalists, including Telegraph Sport, outlining his grand ambitions for this campaign. With a pint in his hand, the clear message was that he was not expecting another relegation scrap.
The decision to reward him with a new three-year contract last month was a move designed for stability, even if the timing of the announcement was unavoidably odd. Yet now it feels like Groundhog Day. Wolves seasons seem to play out the same way: manager comes in during time of turmoil, saves club from the drop, talks of never being in this situation again, endures a frustrating summer transfer window and then leaves soon after. Then repeat.
All the signs are pointing towards Pereira following the same route as Julen Lopetegui and Gary O’Neil. He is not blameless, and results, team selection and sticking with underachieving players have damaged his standing with the supporters. For now, Fosun is intent on staying calm. The ultimate decision maker, executive chairman Jeff Shi, is tired of the cycle, so Pereira’s job is safe for the moment.
There is obvious concern over results, while the starts of last season’s promoted clubs, most pertinently Sunderland, have triggered further alarm. Yet Wolves still want to give Pereira more time and stick to a long-term plan.
They sacked O’Neil last December amid fears he had lost the dressing room. There were also a number of disciplinary issues, most notably when Matheus Cunha snatched glasses off a member of Ipswich Town’s security team.
