Gary O’Neil on the verge of English football return with announcement imminent

Gary O’Neil is set to replace Kieran McKenna to become Ipswich’s new manager, talkSPORT understands.

The 43-year-old is poised to return to England just five months after making the move to France to take charge of Strasbourg.

O’Neil is set to make a move back to the Premier League despite taking over at Strasbourg in JanuaryAFP

talkSPORT told you two weeks ago that the ex-West Ham midfielder was on the Tractor Boys’ shortlist at Portman Road.

Ipswich have been keen not to waste time in finding McKenna’s successor after he decided to step down in Suffolk after nearly five years at the helm.

Citing a need to take a break from management and spend more time with his family, McKenna‘s final act in charge of Ipswich was securing a second Premier League promotion in three years on the final day of the Championship campaign.

Ipswich’s manager search

Along with former Bournemouth and Wolves boss O’Neil, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was sounded as a potential option by Ipswich.

The ex-Manchester United manager Solskjaer has been out of work since his sacking by Turkish club Besiktas last summer.

And we also told you how Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen was another candidate admired by Ipswich following the Norwegian outfit’s impressive showing in Europe in recent years.

But O’Neil was always the top target for Ipswich chiefs, with an agreement now in place between them and Strasbourg.

Giving the latest news regarding Ipswich’s managerial search, talkSPORT chief football correspondent Alex Crook said: “Gary O’Neil, former Bournemouth and Wolves boss.

“He has been at Strasbourg, he led them into the semi-finals of the Conference League last season.

“He’s heading back to England, back to the Premier League to Ipswich Town to replace Kieran McKenna following his surprise departure having led Ipswich to promotion last season.

McKenna decided to step down at Ipswich having secured three promotions during his spell at Portman RoadGetty

“We understand at talkSPORT, a club-to-club agreement is in place between Ipswich and Strasbourg – of course part of the BlueCo Group that also own Chelsea.

“And it’s just the finer details of the contract that Gary O’Neil is agreeing before he is formally as Ipswich’s new manager and that replacement for Kieran McKenna.”

Meanwhile, Ipswich chairman and chief executive officer Mark Ashton has told talkSPORT he expects confirmation on a new boss in the near future.

Speaking to legendary reporter Ian ‘Moose’ Abrahams on Friday, Ashton said: “Whilst we haven’t named a manager yet, I think that’s imminent.

“And we certainly have a direction of travel in which way we are going.”

When pressed when an announcement would be coming ‘within the next week,’ Ashton then remarked: “Yeah, for sure, I would be very disappointed if that wasn’t the case.”

O’Neil has managed 88 games in the Premier League during his time at Bournemouth and WolvesGetty

Ashton then remained coy when asked whether a manager that fans ‘have seen before’ in the Premier League will be in the dugout for the upcoming season.

He stated: “Watch this space… look, I have to keep my cards close to my chest, because there are all sorts of commercial discussions going on around that.

“But I think over the last 24 hours, things have become clearer, we’ve interviewed numerous people from numerous walks of life, nationally and internationally.

“And as I said, we now have a direction of travel.”

How did Gary O’Neil fare at Strasbourg?

O’Neil replaced Liam Rosenior at Stade de la Meinau in January to replace Liam Rosenior, who took over at Chelsea – lasting just three months.

In total, he won 13 of his 27 matches across all competitions – losing on just eight occasions as he guided the French side to eighth place in Ligue 1.

O’Neil could be announced at Ipswich this weekGetty

He also created club history by taking Strasbourg to the semi-finals of European competition for the first time – being mobbed by jubilant fans in McDonald’s as a result.

And O’Neil also took the Blue and Whites to the Coupe de France semi-final as they came up short in their quest to end the club’s seven-year trophy drought.

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