Exclusive: Major Leicester City, Gary O'Neil twist emerges | OneFootball

Gary O'Neil is no longer in the running for the vacant Leicester City manager's job, FLW understands.

Gary O'Neil is no longer in the running for the vacant Leicester City manager's job, Football League World has exclusively been informed.

The Foxes are still looking for their new boss after finally parting company with Ruud van Nistelrooy in late June following the club's relegation from the Premier League.

Leicester are yet to make any new additions to their playing squad this summer, and concerns are understandably growing from fans over the direction the club might be heading, with the very real threat of a points deduction still looming over the King Power Stadium.

Gary O'Neil no longer in contention for Leicester City job

Football League World has exclusively been informed that Gary O'Neil is no longer in the running to become Leicester City's new manager.

FLW also exclusively revealed last weekend that the Foxes have held talks with former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder over becoming their new manager.

Telegraph reporter John Percy had revealed on Monday that the Foxes were closing in on making an appointment, with both Wilder and O'Neil having been interviewed for the vacant position and subsequently were on the shortlist.

Percy also claims that other candidates have been sounded out, and that Leicester are looking to confirm the identity of their new boss later this week.

However, FLW now understands that O'Neil's name can be crossed off the list, with the 42-year-old having been out of work since being sacked by Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-December last year.

Leicester City door now appears to have been left wide open for Chris Wilder to take charge

With O'Neil now out of the picture, Wilder appears to have a fairly clear run at becoming the new Leicester City manager.

The 57-year-old knows exactly what it takes to win promotion to the Premier League, having done so with Sheffield United in 2018/19, and that will be the remit for Leicester in 25/26.

Indeed, Blades would've registered 92 points in the Championship last season had it not been for their two-point deduction, which is a tally that would've equalled their club record.

It would also have been good enough to win automatic promotion to the Premier League in eight of the last 10 seasons, with their latest campaign ending in play-off final heartbreak to Sunderland at Wembley Stadium.

Therefore, there would surely be plenty of happy Foxes fans if Wilder is to become their new manager, whilst O'Neil would likely have been a popular choice too given the success he's had at both Bournemouth and Wolves respectively.

He was able to keep the Cherries in the Premier League in their first season with a 15th-placed finish in 22/23, and subsequently laid the foundations for the top-half success the club is now enjoying.

O'Neil also guided Wolves to a respectable 14th-placed finish in the top flight in 23/24, and so despite things not quite going to plan for him last term, he's still seen as a hugely promising young coach.