Ipswich Town Set to Appoint Gary O’Neil as Head Coach

Ipswich Town are closing in on Gary O’Neil as their next head coach, moving swiftly to fill the void left by Kieran McKenna’s shock departure.

The 43-year-old Strasbourg boss is poised to take charge at Portman Road, with only compensation between the clubs left to finalise. That is not expected to derail the move, and Ipswich’s hierarchy now look set to land their preferred candidate.

Ipswich turn to O’Neil after McKenna era

McKenna walked away earlier this month, just weeks after delivering back-to-back promotions and dragging Ipswich back into the Premier League with a second-place finish in the Championship. His decision stunned supporters who had grown used to relentless progress under the 40-year-old since he took the reins in 2021.

Three promotions in four seasons – two of them lifting Ipswich into the top flight – restored a club that had drifted for too long. Then came the pause. McKenna, briefly linked with Fulham following Marco Silva’s exit, chose instead to step away from the game to spend more time with his family.

"I feel this is the right time for me to step aside," he said. "I do so with great pride at the incredible progress we have made and with huge hope and optimism for the future of the club."

Ipswich’s response has been decisive. They have turned to a coach with Premier League experience, European pedigree from his short stint in France, and a pre-existing bond with the club’s chief executive.

Strasbourg success and a familiar face for Ashton

O’Neil’s work at Strasbourg has not gone unnoticed. The French club finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season and surged into the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they fell to Rayo Vallecano. It was the first time Strasbourg had ever reached the last four of a European competition – a landmark that underlined O’Neil’s growing reputation.

Inside Portman Road, admiration has been building for some time. Ipswich’s interest was reported earlier this month, and talks have accelerated as McKenna’s exit forced the club into action.

There is also history. O’Neil played for Bristol City during Mark Ashton’s time as chief executive at Ashton Gate, a connection that has helped fuel Ipswich’s confidence in his fit for the role. Ashton now leads the operation in Suffolk and knows exactly what kind of character he is bringing in.

Strasbourg had been hopeful of keeping O’Neil after appointing him in January, but the lure of a Premier League return has proved decisive. Once the paperwork is done, he will be back in England’s top division for the first time since leaving Wolves in December 2024.

Backroom reshuffle and a missed chance for Solskjaer

O’Neil is not expected to arrive alone. Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley, who have been working alongside him in France, are also set to join him at Ipswich as part of a broader coaching reshuffle. The club want continuity of ideas and a ready-made team that can hit the ground running in a brutally unforgiving league.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was among the other names in the frame this week. The former Manchester United manager held interest, but Ipswich’s focus hardened around O’Neil as talks progressed and the scale of Strasbourg’s season under him came into sharper view.

Now, with promotion secured and McKenna’s transformative spell consigned to history, Ipswich are banking on O’Neil to write the next chapter. The Tractor Boys are back in the Premier League. The question is whether O’Neil can keep them there – and how high he can drive them from here.