Premier League strugglers strip midfielder of captaincy after he started huge brawl and shoved team-mate and coach

MARIO LEMINA has been stripped of the Wolves captaincy and replaced by Nelson Semedo, who will skipper Gary O'Neil's strugglers against Ipswich Town on Saturday.

O'Neil took the decision to relieve Lemina of his duties early this week during a meeting with the midfielder and some key staff.

The 31-year-old midfielder replaced Max Kilman as Wolves skipper this summer and has worn his heart on his sleeve - alongside his armband.

Earlier this season he broke down in tears after a home defeat to Liverpool and had to be consoled by Virgil van Dijk, a former teammate of his at Southampton.

But his controversial captaincy came to an end following ugly scenes after Monday night's defeat at West Ham.

Lemina clashed with Hammers captain Jarrod Bowen and then had to be pulled away following a public spat with Wolves assistant Shaun Derry on the pitch, following Wolves' 2-1 defeat.

O'Neil confirmed Semedo will now lead Wolves out at home to Ipswich.

"We’ve spoken a lot this week, me Mario and some of the other senior players because what happened after the game can’t happen," he said.

"We understand emotions can rise and we’re in a tough moment and everyone is under big stress and pressure but they are scenes we won’t see again.

"We get on very well, Mario and myself, he has been a big part of what we’ve been able to do here and we have a large amount of respect for each other.

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"We decided to move the captaincy to Nelson and Nelson will captain the group from now on."

O'Neil believes he has lifted a huge weight off Lemina's shoulders and backed the volatile Gabon international to show his love for the club on the pitch this weekend.