O'Neil takes over at Ipswich

Ipswich Town have appointed Gary O'Neil as manger.

"It is an honour to be appointed Manager of this great football club," O'Neil said.

"I have followed the progress the club has made over the last few years closely and to now have the opportunity to lead Ipswich Town in the Premier League is something I am hugely excited by.

"There is a strong vision and ambition at this club and I am fully aware of the responsibility that brings, given how much it means to its supporters and to the community of Ipswich and Suffolk.

"We all know the challenge ahead as we prepare for the season together and I'm excited to meet everyone and get to work."

Strasbourg received a fee believed to be worth 5m euros (£4.3m) including add-ons as O'Neil had two years left on his contract in France. The top flight club, which is linked to Chelsea through their shared ownership, aim to appoint a new manager within the next two weeks.

Mark Ashton, chief executive at Ipswich Town, told reporters he believes O'Neil is "our man" after appointing him as the new manager.

"We had a small group of people that we had a genuine personal interest in and then you see what comes in from the market," he says.

"We run a robust professional process and right the way through that process, Gary's key attributes shone.

"I think right from the start of that process, we met him, we spent time with him, we spoke to him, we started to call references, we did our due diligence, it was clear he was out man.

"So I am delighted to have him here."