Ipswich Town ‘to appoint’ Gary O’Neil after McKenna exit | OneFootball

Ipswich Town, one of Leeds United’s new Premier League rivals for 2026/27, are reportedly closing in on a managerial appointment.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, talks have progressed with Gary O’Neil, while Fabrizio Romano said on Saturday that an agreement on terms is in place, with only formalities to follow via X.

Ipswich secured automatic promotion last season, finishing second behind Coventry City, completing an instant Premier League return and a third promotion in four years under Kieran McKenna. They struggled in the 2024/25 top flight and now take a second swing without their popular head coach, who left earlier this month to take a break from football.

O’Neil has managed RC Strasbourg since January. Strasbourg lost Liam Rosenior to Chelsea, with both clubs owned by American consortium BlueCo, and finished eighth under the Englishman, also falling at the Europa Conference League semi-final stage.

The 43-year-old’s previous Premier League spells brought mixed returns. He kept Bournemouth up in 2022/23 before being replaced by Andoni Iraola, then led Wolves to 14th in 2023/24 before being sacked the following December after a defeat to Ipswich.

If confirmed, O’Neil would have ample time to imprint his ideas before Ipswich visit Elland Road on December 5. The return at Portman Road is on May 1, each team’s fifth-to-last fixture.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk