Gary O’Neil will be given the chance to reverse Wolverhampton Wanderers’ alarming run of results and retains the immediate backing of the club.

O’Neil’s position as manager has been in serious doubt after just three victories from 25 Premier League matches but the Wolves hierarchy is determined to avoid a knee-jerk decision on his future.

Wolves have been seeking replacements for the 41-year-old, but it has been decided that O’Neil will receive their support to turn their situation around.

The defeat by former manager Julen Lopetegui at West Ham on Monday night leaves Wolves 19th in the table, four points from safety and with a league-high 38 goals conceded.

The Wolves board do not believe O’Neil is solely responsible for the club’s struggles this season and will make funds available to sign new players when the transfer window opens next month.

There is an acknowledgement that at least one centre-half must be signed in January, following the £40 million sale of captain Max Kilman to West Ham and the season-ending injury to Yerson Mosquera.

Wolves are committed to providing O’Neil and his coaching staff with the support necessary to improve results, with two potentially significant games coming up against Ipswich and Leicester.

If results do not improve, O’Neil’s future will clearly come under scrutiny again, but there is a belief internally that Wolves have successfully navigated difficult situations before and are equipped to deal with the current challenges.

O’Neil, who signed a new contract in August, was under severe pressure before the last international break but secured a sorely needed home win over Southampton.

An impressive away win at Fulham appeared to suggest a revival – but successive defeats against Bournemouth, Everton and West Ham have generated fresh uncertainty over the manager’s position.

O’Neil earned widespread praise last season for guiding Wolves to a 14th-placed finish after succeeding Lopetegui, who walked out before the start of the campaign.

However, this season has proved a huge struggle and, after the 2-1 defeat at West Ham, he said: “I am not concerned [about my position]. Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.

“I am really proud of the group and everything they have given me. I can only ask them to give their best. We won’t give up and we’ll keep pushing.”

Wolves face Ipswich Town at home this weekend before then travelling to another struggling team, Leicester City, on December 22.

Meanwhile, Wolves captain Mario Lemina issued an apology to the club’s coach Shaun Derry after he squared up to the backroom staff member and also clashed with West Ham’s Jarred Bowen.

“This morning, I write this message with great hindsight and I really want to apologise to all the people who love this club and who love football,” Lemina wrote on Instagram.

“I never wanted this to happen on the ground, I have always been a fair player, even in defeat.

“If something is said, make sure the truth comes out. I shook this player’s hand, like I always do and I was grabbed and thrown to the ground. I just reacted to a situation that I didn’t cause at all.

“I love my team, the staff and all the people who make up this club. We [are] all gonna fight harder to overcome this situation. Shaun, you already know, we [are] gonna fight again and again.”