O'Neil: We Have to Be Successful This Year
Friday, 10th Jul 2026 09:43

New Blues manager Gary O’Neil says everyone is focused on Town making a mark in the Premier League for the first time since 2000/01.

Then George Burley’s newly promoted side were the story of the season as they finished fifth to qualify for the UEFA Cup for the first time in 19 years and even had a chance of reaching the Champions League on the final day of the campaign.

The next season ended in relegation, however, as did the Blues’ return to the top flight following a 22-year wait in 2024/25.

O’Neil, who was appointed boss just over a fortnight ago, says his job is to build on his predecessor Kieran McKenna’s outstanding work during his four and a half seasons at the helm.

“Me and Kieran have exchanged messages a few times over the last few years, bumped into him a few times at a few events, always spoke to him after games. He’s obviously done an incredible job here,” he told Sky Sports.

“The next phase of that, which the club hasn’t been able to do for a very long time, is to secure a successful Premier League campaign. I think the last one was 2001, so a long, long time ago since the club has been able to really make a mark in the top level. And that’s what we’re going to do this year. That’s what everyone’s focused on.”

O’Neil admits he hadn’t anticipated returning to the top level of English football so soon having joined Ligue 1 Strasbourg in January.

“I wasn’t planning to be back in the Premier League this summer,” he added. “I enjoyed my time at Strasbourg, it was excellent, I was managing in the semi-final of a European competition [Europa Conference League], semi-final of the French Cup, PSG, Marseille, big, big games to add to what I’ve already been doing over the last few years.

“And, of course, the Premier League, as an English coach, is the place to be. The aim is, we need to stay in the division.

“Two seasons ago, the club didn’t get anywhere near staying in the division and this time we need to do better than that.

“That’s why I’m here, that’s why we’re trying to get this squad ready, that’s why we’re trying to add quality to the squad from different parts of the world and we’re trying to add some different attributes.

“And we have to be successful this year. The club has worked hard to get its second go at a Premier League campaign and I think the beauty of this club is the following it has. You know that Portman Road’s going to be full every week, no matter what.”

Reflecting on his time at Wolves, which coincidentally ended after Town’s 2-1 win at Molineux in December 2024, the former Bournemouth boss continued: “The Wolves job didn’t bother me at all. I think I’ve done two and a half seasons in the Premier League, maybe just under. Two of them were an incredible success at both places.

“And then we had a few months at Wolves where we played well for a bit, lost against some big teams and then towards the end it started to peter away and there were lots and lots of reasons for that.

“Of course, I accept my part in it. But a few months that didn’t go well at Wolves are not going to define my managerial career. There’s so much more to what we do. It was an awful long time ago.

“I think Ipswich now are definitely going to get an even better version of me. I don’t think you’ll find many 43-year-old managers that have already had three Premier League jobs, been away, worked in Europe and got to a semi-final.

“So I bring a good experience for my age, I can help this group with an understanding of what’s going to be required.

“The learning curve at Wolves, it was an interesting club to go into because there were people brought in from all over the place, some of them not happy, some of them happy and you try and gel it all together, and you can see that the club has struggled even since we’ve left. It’s just the nature of the direction that it’s gone in.

“I loved my time there. I still love the fact that I was given that opportunity, still speak to loads of the players. So, no, I don’t regret any of that.”

Photo: TWTD

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Brogan55 added 09:54 - Jul 10

I feel that Gary is starting to buy a team that will stay in the league.I hope most people will give him time to get things right,I will.
Reflecting on how well Kieran did,don’t forget he had half a season at first to get the team ticking.Then the exciting journey started.
So I am saying give Gary a chance,as long as there are three teams below us at the end of the season,that is our aim.It is a marathon,not a sprint.This could be our most exciting season,yet.

oldelsworthyfan added 09:57 - Jul 10 On joining us his CV is better than Bobby Robson's was at the time. I wish you the best Gary.
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PortmanTerrorist added 10:06 - Jul 10

At this stage I have more faith in GON than our recruitment capability. Having said that, a belated (remember we had a month head start on Prem teams) first signing is in the door so can only be hopeful Ashton actually, finally is able to give an Ipswich manager the tools to keep us up. Kieran never had a chance with signings 2 summers ago, and can't help wonder if he thought history might repeat, and that was a factor in him leaving. Come on Mr Ashton, you can do it. Price the doubters wrong and give us/GON a fighting chance to kick on

michael_ayers added 10:08 - Jul 10

GON likes to focus on his recent success at Strasbourg, "I was managing in the semi-final of a European competition [Europa Conference League], semi-final of the French Cup, PSG, Marseille, big, big games to add to what I’ve already been doing over the last few years.".

I shall be giving the manager plenty of time to see if he can keep us in the Premier league, but talk is easy at this stage and I can't wait for the season to get started and see how he performs.

It's a huge pressure of a job and we have seen before that when that pressure gets too much, GON talk isn't so good.

prebbs007 added 10:10 - Jul 10

Great to hear the ambitio0n but action speaks louder than words. Ashton's assertion. that we were a long way down the road with a few deals seems a little premature, you've been here 3 weeks and we've signed 1 player who is a huge gamble, we gambled last time by trying to create the best team of championship players and it failed dismally, so I really hope we are going to add some proven premier league experience alongside the young talent this time around and we need to do it relatively soon so they have a pre season of your vision together. Uppa Town.

baxterbasics added 10:30 - Jul 10 It's better to aim for the stars and land in the trees, than to aim for the trees and land in the mud.
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Guthrum added 10:33 - Jul 10 I don't know what else he can say at this stage. Recruitment is ongoing, he obviously can't start telling everybody what our tactics are going to be. Training is in its earliest stages. Generalities, platitudes and reminiscences are about all that are left to fill media minutes.
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mathiemagic added 10:43 - Jul 10 I get it that he has to be bullish and aim for the stars, but with 6 weeks or so to go until the Sunderland game and we have only signed one player and extended one contract. Some serious recruitment needs to happen if we are to stand any chance of avoiding the drop. Lets hope it begins soon.
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Pettabelieveit added 10:45 - Jul 10 I want to like him and I’ll back him and the side unequivocally, but every time I hear him speak, it’s all me, me, me.
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Realist added 10:46 - Jul 10 oldelsworthyfan I doubt very much that Bobby had a CV or even knew what a CV was. The fact is GON's CV is pretty crap and the sole ambition of finishing 17th hardly encouraging. Have you ever heard the old saying "Shoot for the stars and you might get the earth".
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muccletonjoe added 10:47 - Jul 10 He doesn't have to prove his credentials to anyone. Highly unlikely we were going to appoint an inexperienced rookie. The job is to get a squad together capable of staying up. At least 6 more needed imo.
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blueboy1981 added 10:53 - Jul 10 Lets be honest - whom, with a very short while left to ‘gel’ and ‘settle’ (we’ve all heard how necessary it is before) has Confidence in ITFC Recruitment ?? All will be tantamount to Prem’ survival.
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baxterbasics added 10:57 - Jul 10 I suspect a lot of our business will be concluded in the ten days between the season starting and the window shutting. Then again in Jan.
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blueboy1981 added 11:02 - Jul 10 I think the only CV our Late Great Sir Bobby had when he arrived at Portman Road - was a Citroen 2CV !! But what a Football Legend he became, and more. Good Luck Gary - with Ashton and his Recruitment you may more than need it …. !!
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blueboy1981 added 11:05 - Jul 10 I think we have the Manager for the job in hand - Do we have the Recruitment ?
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Dissboyitfc added 11:07 - Jul 10 Baxterbasics love that! The signings we are going for are wanted by other clubs and in some cases bigger who can offer more clubs! We could have had 10 signings already if we had settled for players readily available with no other offers! Got to be patient with him and the signings or lack of!
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oldelsworthyfan added 11:14 - Jul 10 Hi Realist. Bobby Robson's first job was NOT to get relegated! (He also said he was Ipswich's fifth choice Manager!)
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hyperbrit added 11:45 - Jul 10 it's easy to overlook the fact that we don't have to play our "bogey" teams Leicester and Southampton this year and ,while that doesn't mean we will beat their replacements,it could give us 6 points that we wouldn't otherwise have.
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Marinersnose added 11:48 - Jul 10

I’m looking forward to seeing how we setup and perform under GON . I do however agree with other posts regarding our business in the transfer market. We do appear to overpay for some players and we also appear to make some last minute hurried purchases but of course I speak historically. I’m not sure how much influence McKenna had on the transfer business as I got the impression that he was at times dissatisfied with some of our business, I may be wide of the mark. Hopefully we get some quality through the door

Swoody added 11:55 - Jul 10 His already picking up all the Ashton tag lines "better version of me"
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jas0999 added 12:02 - Jul 10

There is no getting away from it … KM didn’t do a good job in the PL. GON has more experience, but the pressure will be on him from day one. Last season, in the championship, we started slowly owing to the recruitment being carried out far too late. We need to hit the ground running from day one in the PL We can’t afford weeks and weeks for players to gel. New players are needed and sooner rather than later. Remarkably, just six weeks until the eve of the big kick off. Time now to bring more players in.

MathieandMarshall added 12:05 - Jul 10

Sounds like he's still trying to convince the Town fans that he's the man to replace KMc. He know that his predecessor was loved by the fans and is on operation 'win over the fans' currently. Maybe aware of the mixed reaction on social media to his appointment?

We all need to focus on the future now and if he can keep us in the division then he'll be the right appointment. Hopefully see a few more of those 'advanced talks' deals through the door in the coming week or two!

minesapint added 12:26 - Jul 10 "... says his job is to build on his successor Kieran McKenna's outstanding work..." I think that should be predecessor.
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tractorboy100 added 12:31 - Jul 10 I agree with Brogan55. This could be a very exciting year! Let's give Gary O' Neil a chance! Give him our backing and show him how passionate Ipswich Fans are! Show him how united we are! COYB!!!!
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