WOLVERHAMPTON Wanderers have appointed former Cherries boss Gary O’Neil as their new head coach, just days before the start of the Premier League season.

He signs a three-year deal at Molineux and will be in the dugout when Wolves begin their Premier League campaign on Monday, when they travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.

Late on Tuesday night it was announced that Julien Lopetegui would leave Molineux after just nine months in the job, club and manager agreeing to an ‘amicable end’ following ‘differences of opinion on certain issues.’

Talks regarding an exit had coincided with a search for his replacement, Wolves now turning to O’Neil.

Lopetegui has frequently bemoaned Wolves’ lack of transfer activity this window, with the club only permanent transfers either tying down last season’s loan players or adding to their squad with free transfers.

Despite selling key players such as Raul Jimenez, Nathan Collins, and Ruben Neves, the Midlands outfit are unable to spend freely on incoming transfers owing to the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules.

It is somewhat familiar territory for O’Neil, with his first job in management last season coming about after his predecessor, Scott Parker, was dismissed following his repeated snipes about lack of transfer business.

Originally appointed caretaker manager, O’Neil’s first game in change came against Wolves, the rookie boss picking up a credible 0-0 draw just days after a 9-0 thrashing away at Liverpool in Parker’s final game in charge.

His role as interim stretched to November, before Cherries opted to install the former West Ham and Portsmouth midfielder on a permanent basis, signing a one-and-a-half-year contract that also included the provision of a 12-month extension after survival had been secured.

O’Neil had departed Vitality Stadium this June after steering Cherries to Premier League safety, with the Dorset club opting to show ambition by hiring Basque manager Andoni Iraola.

In total, O’Neil took charge of Cherries for 37 matches, winning 11 games and losing 20.

Cherries will welcome Wolves to Vitality Stadium on Saturday, October 21, before travelling north in the return fixture on Saturday, March 16.