Ipswich Town

Falkirk are aiming to seal a loan deal for Ipswich Town midfielder Finley Barbrook. (Daily Record), external

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Steve Mellen
Fan writer

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Wanted: Man to take on a tricky task and a very hard one. The tricky task is to keep a newly-promoted team in the Premier League. The very hard one is to make a distraught fanbase fall in love again.

I have friends with young kids, and those kids think that most seasons at Portman Road end with a promotion pitch invasion because that is pretty much all they've known since Kieran McKenna took charge.

We knew it would end some day. Clubs of the stature of Manchester United and Chelsea had been sniffing around in the past, and other Premier League sides were also interested.

What we didn't expect was him to want a break so early in his career, but when you reflect on it, it makes sense. His success as a coach has been based on an almost obsessive attention to detail, to being the first one in the training ground car park and the last one to leave. That takes a toll.

Maybe there was a clue in the first interview McKenna gave as thousands invaded the pitch when promotion was secured back in May, when he said he wanted a break before thinking about the challenge ahead. The way his voice cracked with emotion at the end of his "goodbye" video to the fans suggests it was a harder decision than we might realise.

So the shoes Gary O'Neil needs to fill are not just big, they are the ones from the nursery rhyme large enough for a woman and her family to live in.

The reception from fans has been mixed, with words like "underwhelming" bandied around. But that's harsh in my view. O'Neil laid the foundations for Bournemouth's current success, and his recent season with Strasbourg was impressive.

A good start will be key, and a distinct style. We've grown used to the excitement of 'McKennaball', now O'Neil will have to get the fans off their seats while achieving the one thing McKenna could not – Premier League survival.

If he manages that, Suffolk may well fall in love again. We're sentimental like that.

Steve Mellen is an author, the former editor of ITFC magazine Meet Me At Sir Alf, and also represented fanzine Those Were The Days

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We asked you which players you have watched at the World Cup that you think would be a great fit at Ipswich Town.

Here are some of your comments:

Neil: Alireza Beiranvand, the Iranian goalkeeper. Currently plays for Tractor in Iran - already a Tractor Boy.

Ted: As an Aussie I'm obviously biased, but Harry Souttar from Leicester City would be a fantastic edition to our backline. Especially as Leicester have been relegated from the Championship! Souttar paired with Dara O'Shea would be a formidable force!

David: I think Canada international Promise David would be a fantastic addition to the Ipswich forward line... he's a huge physical presence at 6ft5, has great speed, is only 24 and has been improving very quickly over the past couple of years. His physicality and speed would be a force in the Premier League, and with high-level coaching will continue to improve.

Tell us who you have scouted here

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We asked for your views on Ipswich Town's appointment of Gary O'Neil as manager and what his first priorities should be.

Here are some of your comments:

Mark: We must get at least two quality and proven goalscorers and our midfield needs additions. Also the manager must have a plan A and B. Our priorities must be to stay in the Premier League.

James: This is not a good appointment at all, however we have to get behind it. The one thing I think needs to happen is getting Liam Delap back on loan. If O'Neil can use his BlueCo connection to make it happen this would be a great bit of business.

Malcolm: I imagine he could do a decent job, but starting off with perhaps 50% of fans against him means there will be zero margin for error when the season gets underway.

Paul: O'Neil was not the most fantastic appointment but certainly not the worst. It's not a name we associate with exciting, free-flowing football but then again, the best that could be said about last season's football is that it was competent apart from some outstanding performances, among them Coventry away. We crave the excitement of the two promotion years from League One to the Premier League but I'm sure most supporters would be more than happy if O'Neil can put a squad together to ensure a modicum of safety.

Graeme McLoughlin
BBC Radio Suffolk reporter

It's the ultimate shop window: a World Cup with 48 teams - all packed with players eager to show what they can do on the biggest stage.

With the transfer window now open, BBC Sport journalists have been taking a look at some of the key names being discussed.

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A proven goalscorer is likely to be one of Ipswich Town's priorities this summer when it comes to bringing in new players, but how many of those shining at the World Cup would be interested in a move to Suffolk remains to be seen.

Cyle Larin feels like one that got away having watched him find the net for Canada against Qatar. He'll remain with last season's Championship rivals Southampton having made his impressive loan switch a permanent one.

Away from the World Cup, Ipswich have been linked with Italian teenager Jeff Ekhator who certainly could be one for the future.

Four goals from 54 league appearances for Genoa doesn't get the juices flowing, though, and I'd sooner see Town opt for an older head in Callum Wilson, who does at least have a proven track record in the Premier League.

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BBC Radio Suffolk has taken to the streets of Ipswich to canvas opinion on Gary O'Neil's appointment.

Alfie, 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."

Supporter Gordon Smith added: "He's not bad, young and up and coming. 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."

Meanwhile, writing in to BBC Radio Suffolk's The Blue Hour show, David from Pembrokeshire said: "I'm very impressed with how Gary has spoken at the press conference. 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."

• What are the priorities for O'Neil? Tell us

• Read a live blog from O'Neil's first news conference

Listen to The Blue Hour below or on BBC Sounds here

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 Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but O'Neil has been in their thoughts for a long time.

He had been seen as the ideal replacement for Kieran McKenna and there was internal expectation he would be the one to come in.

Ipswich were braced for McKenna's departure, whether it was to another club or not, and had prepared accordingly.

Talks with O'Neil advanced quickly on Thursday although, like any manager, he sought assurances and clarity over recruitment and Ipswich's spending power.

Those questions were answered, although Strasbourg and owners BlueCo wanted him to stay in France.

He had positive conversations with Behdad Eghbali, Chelsea's co-owner and the majority shareholder of BlueCo, the consortium which owns both the Blues and Strasbourg.

Eghbali was keen to keep O'Neil but, with budgets tight and an acceptance it would be difficult to replace Chelsea-bound Emmanuel Emegha and Valentin Barco, the decision was perhaps made a little easier.

Town are expected to spend to strengthen the squad for their Premier League return and the target is survival, ensuring they compete with the bottom six.

Ipswich feel they are better equipped for the top flight this season than two years ago, after McKenna led them to successive promotions from League One.

O'Neil will be backed and, having seen his time at Bournemouth and Wolves cut short, he has the perfect opportunity to re-establish himself in the Premier League.

Gary O'Neil has been speaking to the media after being unveiled as the new head coach of Ipswich Town.

The 43-year-old, who is the 20th manager in the Blues' 90-year professional history, arrives at Portman Road from French side Strasbourg, signing a three-year deal to the summer of 2029.

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• O'Neil started by telling reporters that Kieran McKenna did "incredible things", but the next steps are about stabilising Ipswich as a Premier League club.

• He added the focus is to "get enough points" to stay in the Premier League and he can see that the club's aim is to grow, which is what attracted him to the role.

• On being at Ipswich: "You can probably tell I'm excited to get going. I'm disappointed we don't start training instantly but the lads need their break so we've given them the next few days to make sure that they're ready. There will be plenty for me to do between now and that moment."

• The new head coach believes he has the experience to help the club in whichever position they find themselves in: "Whether we get this club to a European semi-final, I've done that before, whether we need to stay in the Premier League, I've done that before."

• On this role compared to previous ones: "The Premier League is huge of course, and to do it at a club with this history is something new for me. Of course I have had two fantastic opportunities already at Premier League clubs, this one feels very, very special to me."

• He added: "The last two cracks at the Premier League, it wasn't with teams that were on the up."

• O'Neil is yet to meet the squad but said "they look like a committed group and they get the backing of the fans because of that", adding: "You can see that the team is together and well coached."

• On transfers: "We have spent a few hours to go through some bits about the current group and what we think we can help them with, and then what we can supplement from outside, but there will be a lot of work to be done. We will be doing our very best to try and give the club the best chance. I'll have my own thoughts on what we need. The recruitment team look like they're doing a fantastic job and have some good stuff lined up, so let's see what we can do."

• On his style of play: "At Strasbourg, we were 4-2-3-1 a lot. We rotated a bit with the ball to give us some different shapes. We had a lot of the ball. I like that, that is a preference of mine, but we will have to play Manchester City at the Etihad at some point. Maybe it won't be that [formation] and that's probably about as much as I want to give you at this moment."

• O'Neil insisted they "need to take this on now" after successful Championship season, adding: "We need to take it on from where it's been. It's been an incredible journey but we haven't had a Premier League season that has ended in success yet for a very long time. That needs to be the aim now."

Hit play above to listen to O'Neil's news conference or listen on BBC Sounds here

Follow all the latest from O'Neil's unveiling here

Got a question about Ipswich? Get in touch here and we'll seek answers from our experts

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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."

• Follow a live blog on the appointment

• What are the key things O'Neil must do? Tell us

Ipswich Town are gearing up for a news conference at 16:00 BST where it is expected the club's new manager will be presented.

Follow a live blog from BBC Suffolk with plenty of analysis here

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Ipswich are close to appointing Gary O'Neil as their new head coach.

The 43-year-old is poised to replace Kieran McKenna, who stepped down from his position at Portman Road earlier this month.

BBC Radio Sussex producer and Ipswich fan Harvey Bell has been reacting to the impending appointment on The Blue Hour: "Whoever followed Kieran McKenna was always going to have a tough job and, if I'm being honest, of all the names that were out there, was Gary O'Neil my first choice? Probably not.

"I know he's not for many Ipswich Town fans, but over the weekend, with it seeming to have become a little bit clearer that that does seem to be the direction of travel according to various different reports, I was doing a bit more research trying to warm myself to the idea.

"You mentioned about the fact when he took over from Scott Parker at Bournemouth they had a really good second half of the season, he kept them up when Scott Parker had previously said that season that he didn't think anybody was capable of doing that.

"Then his first season at Wolves was really good. Got to a FA Cup quarter-final. It then went a bit dodgy second season at Wolves, but do you know what? He's done a fairly decent job at Strasbourg this season as well. They finished eighth.

"So look, he's a fairly new manager. He's had three proper jobs in Bournemouth, Wolves and Strasbourg. Still very early to judge so the jury's out but let's get behind him."

Listen to the full episode of The Blue Hour on BBC Sounds here

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We asked for your views on Ipswich Town closing in on appointing Gary O'Neil as their new head coach.

Here are some of your comments:

Nicholas: He is not the right choice. He was shown to be very poor under pressure when at Wolves, blaming other parties in public. He is therefore the wrong personality for our club.

Andrew: Worst appointment of a manager ever when there's better out there.

Raymond: Hugely underwhelming and a step backward. Where's the ambition? O'Neil is Championship level (no offence).

Mark: Honestly, who knows the answer to this question? We all do in a year's time. Remember thinking: ''Who's Kieran McKenna?" He turned out to be brilliant, but he didn't keep us in the Premier League, and we'll now never know if he could have. If O'Neil comes, he needs our full support, so I don't think negative speculation would be very helpful. Let's give anyone who comes our backing and see what happens.

Sue: Bad appointment. Has not had success in Premier League - both his appointments led to sackings because results were so poor.

Ed: He has big shoes to fill and 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.

Mark: O'Neil kept Bournemouth and Wolves up. He needs our support trying to follow McKenna.

Nick Mashiter
Football reporter

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Bristol City want to sign Ipswich defender Harry Clarke.

New Robins boss Michael Skubala is looking to bring the right-back to Ashton Gate with doubts over Ross McCrorie's future.

Scotland international McCrorie - who has interest in the Championship and Europe - has 12 months left on his contract and is yet to sign a new deal, with City wary of losing him for free.

Bristol City were in a similar situation with Zak Vyner and Anis Mehmeti last summer, before accepting cut-price fees for the pair in the winter window and they joined Wrexham and Ipswich respectively.

Clarke, 25, spent the second half of last season on loan at Charlton, making 19 appearances, having previously been on loan at Sheffield United in 2024-25.

He joined the Tractor Boys from Arsenal in January 2023 and has played 67 times for the club, scoring once.

Clarke made 39 appearances in all competitions when Ipswich were promoted to the Premier League in 2023-24 and also helped them up from League One the season before.

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It is time to get your scouting caps on!

We're well into the group stage of the biggest World Cup ever and we want to know who has grabbed your attention so far - especially as the summer transfer window has now been officially open for a week.

What player has raised your eyebrows? Which name has exceeded your expectations?

Ultimately, who would you like to see lining up for your team in the Premier League next season?

This is your opportunity to show off your talent-spotting skills - the floor (pitch) is yours...

Tell us the players you want, with your reasoning, here

Enjoy the World Cup across BBC Sport

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From live TV coverage to highlights, analysis and reaction, our dedicated team will ensure you don't miss a kick of the biggest World Cup yet.

And there's more - the BBC has launched live match updates so you can see the score directly on your lock screen through the full 90 minutes and beyond.

This means you can keep track of every game wherever you are - whether you're on the move, at work, or away from a TV. With live match updates on your lock screen, the score is always just a glance away.

This feature will also extend into the 2026-27 Premier League season, so you're never out of the loop.

• Simple steps to set up live lock screen match updates from the World Cup

• How to get Premier League score updates

A new predictor game has been introduced to cover this year's World Cup, allowing users to pick what they think will be the result from every match.

The game also features streaks, so make sure to check in each day and make your predictions.

• Play World Cup Predictor here (UK users only)

Ever wanted to see a World Cup match from every angle? How about a full-pitch tactical view? Or even see the match through the eyes of a player?

Well, now you can with Fifa World Cup 3D Experience, which is a UK-first that is only available on BBC Sport.

The interactive game experience gives viewers more choice to explore the match both in real time, highlights and full-match replays.

• Head here to get started

Finally, here are some more handy links:

• How to follow the World Cup across the BBC

• Beat the time difference and catch up on everything without any spoilers

• Take a dive into each of the 48 squads here

• Play our World Cup quizzes

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So, with Ipswich close to appointing Gary O'Neil as head coach to replace Kieran McKenna, we want to know how you're feeling about the expected new boss.

The 43-year-old former Wolves and Bournemouth manager led French club Strasbourg to an eighth-place finish in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Conference League semi-finals.

Ex-Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was also in the running for the Portman Road job.

Is O'Neil the man you want for the Tractor Boys as they return to the Premier League?

Send us your views here

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Well, at first glance, Sunderland at home compared with a Liverpool side two years ago that went on to become Premier League champions is a kinder proposition for Ipswich Town on the opening day of the season.

However, to say the Black Cats impressed on their return to the top flight last year is an understatement. They will be playing in Europe next season - and three points for Town, or even one point, is far from a given.

Ipswich then travel to Manchester United before Liverpool visit in early September. So, as far as the opening few weeks of a campaign on paper go, this could have been kinder.

That being said, this is the top table of English football, so what did we expect?

• See Ipswich's opening fixtures

The club feels it belongs at this level, and there is no doubting the Blues are more prepared for the Premier League this time around in many areas.

Impressive enhancements to the training ground will be completed this summer, and the club is in far better shape commercially. There is also less work to do at Portman Road in terms of getting the stadium ready to host some of the biggest names in football, along with more high-profile guests from the media and corporate world.

However, with two months to go until matchday one, there are obvious concerns.

A new manager is yet to be appointed following Kieran McKenna's recent decision to step down, and the new boss has some of the biggest shoes in English football to fill.

McKenna's influence and legacy was massive among the players, the staff and the supporters. His successor will need to get those in the building already on side and oversee a successful first transfer window.

We may not be talking the wholesale change of summer 2024, but there are certainly key areas where Ipswich have to strengthen, with a goalscorer capable of finding the net on a regular basis in the Premier League a big priority.

Listen to full-back Leif Davis share his thoughts on Ipswich's fixtures on BBC Sounds here or by pressing play below

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We asked for your views on Ipswich Town's 2026-27 fixtures and how many points you expect from the first 10 games.

Here are some of your comments:

Andy: I expect it to be another tough opening few weeks, with no more than 12 points after 10 games, and a real slog to finish fourth from bottom of the table.

Louis: A bit disappointed with having Manchester United second and Liverpool third, but they could have been a lot worse. Our opening and closing games are at home against sides we are well capable of getting three points from.

Stuart: Happy, excited, nervous. We have to play them all so let's enjoy the experience again. I'm waiting for the announcements of our new manager and possible new additions to team.

Sam: An ideal first fixture, and I think that's the only one that counts with these fixture releases. We know we need to play many extremely difficult games in the Premier League so the ordering of the rest doesn't matter at this point.

Chris: When we look at what's happening with all the other clubs, Ipswich Town are managerless and are not in the race for anyone. This really does not bode well for the new season. If we don't get a manager in as soon as possible and start getting some quality players in, we will miss out and end up relegated once again. Deja vu! Come on Town, get serious!

Nick Mashiter and Nizaar Kinsella
BBC Sport

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Former Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna will cost £8m if any club want to appoint him in the next 12 months.

The 40-year-old stepped down as the Tractor Boys' manager this month to spend more time with his family.

But Ipswich have protected themselves and the triple promotion-winning manager and will still bank compensation despite McKenna walking away from Portman Road.

There remains the possibility it could be negotiated down closer to next year's 1 July cut off to ensure Ipswich do not lose McKenna for free, but the current figure is £8m.

The price tag put Bournemouth off previously, before they appointed Marco Rose, while it remained a consideration for Fulham when they looked at McKenna following Marco Silva's Craven Cottage exit this month.

The former Manchester United assistant quit Ipswich despite leading them back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

He took charge of in 2021 when they were in League One and guided them to three promotions in the past four seasons, two of which have taken the club into the top flight.

McKenna, who was born in London and raised in Northern Ireland, had two years remaining on his contract at Ipswich after signing a four-year deal in 2024.

He won 105 of his 222 games in charge.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Gary O'Neil are candidates to replace McKenna with the club stepping up their search this week.