Ipswich will soon get Gary O'Neil as their new head coach
Ipswich are in the final stages of negotiations to sign Gary O'Neil as a replacement for Kieran McKenna, while compensation is still being settled with the current English club.
Ipswich Town are close to signing Gary O'Neil as their new head coach, according to a report. The 43-year-old Englishman, currently in charge at Strasbourg, has been targeted to replace Kieran McKenna who recently resigned.
Reports say compensation is still being worked out at O'Neil's current club but is not expected to be a major hurdle for the Tractor Boys. O'Neil is also expected to be joined by Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley on his coaching staff, people he has worked with during his time in France.
It was previously mentioned that former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was among those who were also presented by Ipswich before the discussion with O'Neil became tight. BBC Sport reported Ipswich's interest in O'Neil when the news first broke this month.
Under O'Neil's management, Strasbourg finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season and reached the semi-finals of the Europa Conference League, where they lost to Rayo Vallecano — the first time Strasbourg reached the last four of a European competition.
<figure style="margin:2rem 0;overflow:hidden;border:1px solid #e2e2e2;background:#f9f9f9"><img src="https://s.yimg.com/os/en/bbc_us_articles_995/f9569d5eabe7423e7610bdca72897fd3" alt="Image" style="width:100%;height:auto;object-fit:contain" loading="lazy" /></figure>May koneksyon si O'Neil sa kasalukuyang mga opisyal ng Ipswich — naglaro siya para sa Bristol City noong panahon na ang kasalukuyang chief executive ng Ipswich na si Mark Ashton ay may hawak na parehong posisyon sa Ashton Gate. Inaasahan ng Strasbourg na mapapanatili nila si O'Neil nang dumating siya noong Enero, subalit magkakaroon ng pagbabalik-tanaw si O'Neil sa Premier League matapos umalis sa Wolves noong Disyembre 2024.
Hinahanap ng Ipswich ang bagong head coach matapos magpahayag ng pag-alis si Kieran McKenna noong nakaraang linggo. Bagama't pinangunahan ni McKenna ang koponan pabalik sa top flight sa pamamagitan ng pagtatapos sa ikalawang puwesto sa Championship noong nakaraang season, nagpasiya siyang magpahinga at maglaan ng mas maraming oras sa pamilya. "I feel this is the right time for me to step aside," ani McKenna nang magpaliwanag sa kanyang desisyon.
Pinamunuan ni McKenna ang Tractor Boys mula 2021 at dinala ang klub sa tatlong promosyon sa loob ng apat na season, kasama ang dalawang pagkakataon na nagdala sa kanila pabalik sa Premier League.
Iniskedyul na bubuksan ng Ipswich ang kanilang kampanya sa Premier League sa kanilang tahanan laban sa Sunderland sa 22 Agosto.
