Steve Davis will remain in charge at Wolves until 2023 – after Michael Beale became the second boss to turn them down.
Queens Park Rangers manager Beale had been the top choice to replace Bruno Lage after recently-axed Sevilla gaffer Julen Lopetegui rejected the position last week. But the Premier League strugglers were again left frustrated after he decided to stay loyal to the Championship leaders.
And they have now decided to stick with interim boss Davis, who has led them to one win from three as interim boss to date, until after the World Cup. Chairman Jeff Shi laid out in a statement: “We have already seen improvements to the group. Steve understands the culture and standards set at this club. We want to give him and his team clarity on their positions and allow them the best possible opportunity for success.”
Davis will continue to be assisted by James Collins and Tony Roberts and Wolves, who host fellow strugglers Leicester on Sunday, will now look to bolster their backroom staff. Ex-Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo, former Lyon manager Peter Bosz and Rob Edwards, who was sacked by Watford last month, are all believed to have been spoken to.
But, with just four league games remaining before next month’s World Cup, the Wolves hierarchy have decided to stick rather than twist with Davis and his team.
Shi added: “While there are no outstanding candidates to appoint on a permanent basis, we have complete faith in their ability to continue their roles into the World Cup break and new year. We have no plans to rush our search for a new permanent head coach.”
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Beale, meanwhile, admitted he would have felt disloyal to jump ship at QPR, whom he has led to the top of the Championship. It comes despite him only having arriving this summer for what is his first managerial position having previously been No.2 to Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa.
“Wolves is a fantastic football club and it was a real privilege to be asked to speak to them, but I didn’t think it was the right moment because I entered into an agreement here,” Beale said. “Integrity and loyalty are big things for me, and if they are the values you live by you have to be strong.
“I have been all-in here and I have asked other people to be all-in so I can’t be the first person to run away from the ship. I don’t think we are anywhere near where I want QPR to be. We have a lot to do but I’m excited by it.”
