Ipswich Town unveils Gary O'Neil as the club's new manager, following the departure of Kieran McKenna
McKenna announced on 10 June that he was stepping down from the role to spend more time with his family
O'Neil, who has a three-year-deal, will have the task of keeping Ipswich in the Premier League
He says he will "stabilise" Ipswich as a top flight club
O'Neil has just given his first media conference at Portman Road - watch a recording of it on this page
BBC Suffolk had a special edition of The Blue Hour - you can also watch a recording of it from the Ipswich at the top of this feed, or listen to it on BBC Sounds
Image source, PA MediaThank you for following this live page after Gary O'Neil was appointed the new manager of Ipswich Town.
That is it for our live coverage, but you can read more on this story here.
You can listen again to BBC Suffolk's The Blue Hour special for 29 days.
Watch a recording of Gary O'Neil's first media conference from Portman Road
Richard Woodward from The Blue Monday Podcast tells BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin he is happy a new manager has been found.
"I know there will be a heated debate about whether Gary O'Neil is the right person and all that stuff, but at the end of the day he's signed on the dotted line and we can move forward accordingly and actually start getting some stuff done," he explains.
"Because it's a big season ahead and none of us want another relegation, we want to establish ourselves and stabilise at a Premier League level.
"For a lot reasons I think Gary O'Neil ticks the boxes to get that done, so it's now 'mission survivable'.
"We can focus on that rather than the managerial merry-go-round."
Former Ipswich Town player, Cole Skuse, tells the Blue Hour programme that he was "a little bit surprised" when Gary O'Neil was sacked from Wolves back in 2024.
He says O'Neil then did a good job during his most recent spell with Strasbourg in France.
"It's always going to be slightly clouded with [how] he left the Premier League and now Ipswich has stepped into the Premier League, there's always going to be that thinking of 'well, his last [spell] in the Premier League wasn't a success'," he says.
"But if you rewind ever so slightly back, he's had successes within the Premier League with groups that had been deemed to be relegation battlers."
Image source, Getty ImagesLuke Chambers is an ex-Ipswich Town player who made 370 appearances for the club between 2012 and 2021.
Talking about the arrival of Gary O'Neil, he says: "I think it’s a really good appointment for the club. I think it’s a really good appointment for him.
"The fit will be perfect between the two.
"I certainly think he’s the best option with what he wants to do and the support he’ll have from the club.
"He’s got that experience and it’s something he’ll be very, very hungry to take with both hands."
Image source, Shaun Whitmore/BBCGary O'Neil was asked during the media conference if he was looking forward to making Suffolk his new home, which is of course also the home to Ed Sheeran who loves Ipswich Town, has bought shares and even his own squad number.
He describes the county as a "fantastic part of the world" and a "fantastic place".
"I'm going to love my time here... my family are fully committed to it, they all support me fully. They love coming to the matches.
"I'm sure they'll love meeting Ed Sheeran at some point - that'll be high up on their list I think."
Image source, Qays Najm/BBCAnother young Ipswich Town fan is 12-year-old Matias.
"I think he’ll bring a new form of formation and attack to Ipswich Town," he says of the club's new manager, Gary O'Neil.
"Trust the players, be free and be yourself
"I’d try to sign players from West Ham if I was him."
Image source, Getty ImagesCole Skuse is a former Ipswich Town player who actually played against Gary O'Neil when the new boss was at Norwich City.
He tells BBC Radio Suffolk's Graeme McLoughlin during the Blue Hour that he was "gutted" initially when Kieran McKenna announced he was stepping down.
"I played against Gary on numerous occasions and got to know him slightly through players that know him better," he says.
"From a personality reference, you'll struggle to find better. I know you're not solely employing a manager on personality, but the way he will conduct himself and do his detail is very similar to McKenna in so many ways, I'm sure."
He says there is "excitement to see what is to come next from Gary".
"I’m very impressed with how Gary has spoken at the press conference," Ipswich Town fan David from Pembrokeshire writes to BBC Suffolk's The Blue Hour about Gary O'Neil.
"Not only his views on taking the club forward, but also the respect he’s shown to the current squad, the history of the club and the part of the world he’s moving to."
Image source, PA MediaO'Neil has about two months before the start of the Premier League season (the opener is at home to Sunderland on Saturday, 22 August) and has some urgent tasks on his to-do list.
First and foremost, the team. He will need to decide which players he wants in his squad and he will need to identify transfer targets.
As well as that, he will need to get to know the players, their style of play, the way they operate and more.
Quite importantly too, he will need to get the fans behind him and reassure them of his goals for the upcoming season.
Image source, Qays Najm/BBCMore fans are reacting to the news in the town centre.
"He’s not bad, young and up and coming," says Ipswich fan Gordon Smith on the new manager, Gary O'Neil.
"He’s got to get the right players. If he gets good Premier League players, maybe we’ll just hang in there for a while."
O'Neil began his playing career as a central midfielder. He made his professional debut for Portsmouth back in 2000, aged 16.
He stayed at Portsmouth for some time, leaving for Middlesbrough in 2007.
He went on to have spells at West Ham, Bournemouth and Wolves.
And we nearly forgot - he played for a club up the A140 as well, between 2014 and 2016.
Gary O'Neil says he has the experience to take the club through the Premier League, but he says there are things the club can also offer him, including the fanbase.
"There were so many boxes that were ticked for me when it came up, which, once Mark [Ashton, chief exec] offered me the job, it became a no brainer," he says.
"Very excited that we get to work together, can't wait to meet the players, get to work, get my teeth stuck into pre-season and the summer transfer season."
Image source, Qays Najm/BBCAlfie, who is 12 and an Ipswich Town fan. He says Gary O'Neil is "alright".
"McKenna is better, always, but I’ll take him," he says of the new manager.
"We need to sign more players though.
"I liked McKenna a lot, I think we can possibly stay in the Prem."
"The Premier League is great, it's an incredible place to be," Gary O'Neil says when asked if he is excited for the upcoming season by a reporter.
"I feel very fortunate to have already done nearly three years in the best league in the world.
"And to do it with this club feels different at this moment and I'm very excited to get going."
Alice Cunningham
BBC News, Suffolk
Want to share your thoughts on the new manager and your hopes for the upcoming season?
Drop me an email at alice.cunningham@bbc.co.uk.
BBC Sport
Gary O'Neil returns to the Premier League after 18 months away.
The Tractor Boys accelerated their process at the start of last week, also considering former Manchester United and Norway star Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but O'Neil has been in their thoughts for a long time.
He had been seen as the ideal replacement for McKenna and there was internal expectation he would be the one to come in.
Image source, PA MediaPrior to Gary O'Neil being confirmed as the new Ipswich Town manager, fans were sharing their thoughts on him as rumours circled of his appointment.
Fans told BBC Sport the new man would have "big shoes to fill" and some were disappointed by the possible appointment.
Ed said: "He has a fanbase to win over, but he also has a lot of money to spend and he's been there and done it in terms of Ipswich's main goal this season: staying in the Premier League.
"Good luck to him. Shame Thomas Frank wasn't available though."
Raymond added: "Hugely underwhelming and a step backward. Where's the ambition?
"O'Neil is Championship level - no offence."
Sue felt it was a "bad appointment".
"Has not had success in Premier League - both his appointments led to sackings because results were so poor," she added.
Image source, PA MediaIt was an emotional few days when Kieran McKenna announced he would be leaving his role as manager at Ipswich Town.
Some fans were not afraid to hide the tears as they shared their upset, but all of them expressed their gratitude and support for the former boss.
You read the full story of how McKenna's leaving unfolded here.
Image source, Getty ImagesKieran McKenna announced on 10 June he would be leaving Ipswich Town and stepping down as manager.
In a statement released via the club, he said he was leaving with a "mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and contentment" and looked to have a break from management.
"To manage this club has been an absolute privilege," he said.
"Over the last five seasons we have been on an incredible journey that has brought so many of the best experiences in my professional and personal life.
"After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far."
You might still see him strolling through Christchurch Park - during the promotion celebration there he joked that a goalkeeper's kick could possibly hit his nearby house.
Kieran McKenna has been credited by the club as one of Ipswich Town's most successful managers, and chief executive Mark Ashton praised his role at today's media conference.
Take a look at his career in stats:
