Copyright GIVEMESPORT
Wolverhampton Wanderers face Chelsea on Saturday (November 8th), and youth team coaches James Collins and Richard Walker will take charge of the game at Stamford Bridge. Sky Sports' Lyall Thomas reports that Collins and Walker will be in the dugout while Wolves search for a Vitor Pereira replacement after the Portuguese was sacked five days ago. He'd overseen a dismal start to the season with his side sitting rock bottom in the Premier League table with no wins, eight defeats and just two points. They face a Chelsea side who bounced back from a shock loss to Sunderland with a 1-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur last weekend. Enzo Maresca's men are seventh, with 17 points from 10 games. Wolves Youth Coaches In Charge For Chelsea Wolves' decision to sack Pereira could mean they remain managerless for quite some time, as they pursue several managerial targets. Thomas gave an update on the situation ahead of the Chelsea game: "Youth-team bosses James Collins and Richard Walker are set to take charge of Wolves’ trip to Chelsea on Saturday - with the club short of a clear first-choice candidate to succeed Vitor Pereira at this point. (Rob) Edwards, (Rui) Vitoria, (Erik) ten Hag all considered unlikely." Collins has been Wolves' U21 coach since January 2020 and knows the club extremely well, having spent six years at Molineux. Walker was appointed lead professional development phase coach (U18) in May 2023 and the duo will share the responsibility of managing the senior side while a Pereira replacement is sought. Pereira wasn't the only one to depart amid Wolves' nightmare season; director of football Domenico Teti also mutually agreed to part ways. He led the recruitment side of the leadership team, which has come under intense criticism following a disappointing summer transfer window. Wolves' encounter with Chelsea in the same fixture at Stamford Bridge last season finished 3-1 to the hosts, although they did win 4-2 away against the Blues in February 2024. But Collins and Walker will be taking charge of a completely different side that finds themselves in a relegation battle.
