O'Neil appointed new Ipswich manager

Gary O'Neil has been appointed as the new manager of Ipswich Town; O'Neil replaces Kieran McKenna who resigned after guiding the Tractor Boys back to the Premier League; O'Neil leaves Ligue 1 side Strasbourg after just six months in charge

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>Gary O'Neil has been appointed as Ipswich's new manager.

>O'Neil has been chosen to replace Kieran McKenna, who left the club after guiding them back to the Premier League, citing a desire to spend more time with his family.

>He has signed a three-year contract at Portman Road.

>"It is an honour to be appointed manager of this great football club," O'Neil told the club's official website.

>"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.

>Gary O'Neil is the new Manager of Ipswich Town Football Club. 🔵⚪️ pic.twitter.com/ZD6cxicPtO

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

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>O'Neil was one of the top candidates to take the job following McKenna's resignation, along with former Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior.

>O'Neil replaced Rosenior as Strasbourg head coach in January when the latter moved to Stamford Bridge, guiding the club to an eighth-place finish as they missed out on European qualification last season.

>The 43-year-old made 51 appearances for Ipswich's archrivals Norwich between 2014 and 2016.

>Ipswich boss Gary O'Neil speaking in his first press conference:

>"There are a lot of similarities to how my teams have played and what Ipswich have done. We will find ways to be more adaptable, I think.

>"I've obviously managed three teams now and they've all had a very similar style but to different degrees of how much we have the ball and how much risk we take. I'm willing to adapt certain things, but I have things that I won't adapt and that I'm very, very keen on. I want my teams to have the ball, I want us to express ourselves with the ball.

>"But, it is the Premier League. There are some big hitters in it and there are some games that you have to adapt a bit and you try and be clever and you try and pick your moments. I think the real focus this year is let's get enough points. Let's get enough points. Let's still look like a good football team, let's be well coached, let's be together, let's be hard working.

>"But come the end of the season, the only thing that most people are going to care about is how many points we put on the board."

>Gary O'Neil arrives at Portman Road with a busy few weeks on his agenda before Sunderland come to town on Saturday August 22 for the Premier League season-opener.

>Ipswich's squad needs bolstering, both in terms of depth and pedigree, for the top flight challenge ahead after experiences of two seasons ago. Despite a significant number of new arrivals that summer after back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship, Kieran McKenna's side finished well below the line and second from bottom after only four wins all term.

>O'Neil's experience at having to do similar tasks upon his arrival at both Bournemouth and Wolves, with considerably less of a transfer window available on both occasions, should give Ipswich fans optimism.

>But there is no escaping that he will need a decent start from an opening set of fixtures that include a trip to Man Utd and Liverpool at home in their first three games, to not only give them a platform, but also to win over supporters who will still be lamenting McKenna's departure.

>Pragmatism might not necessarily be that exciting in the first instance, but Ipswich will need plenty of it if they are to be competitive and have a fighting chance of survival.

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