News Focus
- Gary O’Neil is ready to become the new head coach at Ipswich Town after leaving his post in France
- The former Wolves manager spent only a short time at Strasbourg in Ligue 1
- He will replace Kieran McKenna who recently departed the Premier League side
- Burnley are also searching for a new boss and have targeted Wales coach Craig Bellamy
Gary O’Neil is preparing to return to English football. The 43-year-old is close to becoming the new head coach at Ipswich Town. Only small details remain before the deal is complete.
O’Neil will replace Kieran McKenna. The previous manager left Ipswich after guiding them back to the Premier League for a second time.
The English manager moved to Strasbourg in January. The French club belongs to the BlueCo group, which also owns Chelsea. During his time there, the team finished eighth in Ligue 1. They also reached the semi-finals of the Conference League.
O’Neil’s last job in England was with Wolverhampton Wanderers. Last November, he almost returned to Wolves but decided against it at the last moment.
He has strong links with Ipswich’s chief executive, Mark Ashton. The pair worked together at Bristol City during O’Neil’s playing days. As a player, he also featured for Ipswich’s rivals, Norwich City.
Meanwhile, Burnley are pushing hard to appoint Craig Bellamy as their new head coach. The Championship club want to replace Scott Parker following their relegation from the top flight.
Bellamy currently manages the Wales national team. He previously worked as an assistant to Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor. He also served as temporary head coach when Kompany left for Bayern Munich in 2024.
The Welsh boss recently stated he wants to lead his country at Euro 2028. However, he has also expressed interest in returning to club management.