Ipswich Town are closing in on Gary O'Neil to become their new head coach, with the 43-year-old set to replace Kieran McKenna who resigned earlier this month. Compensation with O'Neil's current club Strasbourg is still being finalized but isn't expected to complicate the deal. Tim Jenkins and Neil Critchley will join him in Suffolk.

O'Neil earned recognition after guiding Strasbourg to an eighth-place Ligue 1 finish last season and the Europa Conference League semi-finals, where they lost to Rayo Vallecano. This marked the French club's first-ever European semi-final appearance. The former Bournemouth and Wolves manager previously worked with Ipswich chief executive Mark Ashton during his playing days at Bristol City.

McKenna leaves despite delivering remarkable success, securing three promotions in four seasons including last year's Championship second-place finish that returned the Tractor Boys to the Premier League. His departure comes amid reported interest from Fulham following Marco Silva's exit, though family reasons appear to be the driving factor.

O'Neil returns to England's top flight for the first time since departing Wolves in December 2024, inheriting a squad preparing to face Sunderland in their Premier League opener on 22 August. The appointment represents Ipswich's attempt to maintain momentum in their first top-flight campaign since relegation.