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
Want to hear reaction from fans and our sport editor Graeme McLoughlin?
BBC Radio Suffolk will have a special Blue Hour programme from 18:00 to 19:00 BST.
You can listen here on BBC Sounds or watch a live feed from the studio at the top of this page.
Image source, Stuart Howells/BBCGary O'Neil says he knew from quite a young age he wanted to go into management after his playing days ended.
He says he spent a lot of time playing at a level similar to Town, and he'll use that experience as manager.
"There are so many good coaches around that are working their socks off, some of my friends, and they're still working League One, League Two, which is great, but I appreciate the opportunities I've been given to be working at this end of the pyramid," he says.
"I want to repay the faith that people put in me, so at this moment it is Ipswich Town that has given me a fantastic opportunity and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure I repay that."
Tom Williams
at Portman Road
Gary O’Neil is clearly loving the prospect of having another crack in the Premier League after stints managing at Bournemouth and Wolves.
He’s answering most questions with a huge smile and clearly can't wait to get going.
He mentioned he is gutted the players are all on holiday as he wants to get down to business.
He adds that there is money to spend and both he and the club have ideas on players they want to recruit, but importantly he adds they won’t just spend "willy nilly".
Gary O'Neil told the media conference that he had "unfinished business" with the Premier League after his last stint managing in the top flight with Wolves back in 2024, when he was sacked following a 2-1 defeat to Ipswich in December.
Wolves survived that season, but Ipswich went down.
He says he believes the feeling is mutual with Ipswich Town following its last run in the top flight.
Image source, Zac Goodwin/PAGary O'Neil (right) with Tim Jenkins during their time at Wolves - during a 2-1 defeat at West Ham
Gary O'Neil has been given a three-year deal up to the summer of 2029 with Ipswich Town.
The former Bournemouth and Wolves boss, who took Strasbourg to the semi-finals of European football’s Conference League and the Coupe de France, is just the 20th manager in Town's 90-year history as a professional club.
He will be assisted by Tim Jenkins, Neil Critchley and Ed Ames, who all join the backroom staff having worked alongside him in France.
"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," said the new boss.
“We all know the challenge ahead as we prepare for the season together and I’m excited to meet everyone and get to work.”
There is already some reaction coming in from fans - and it seems fans aren't too sure how to feel.
Peter says: "Don't agree with the appointment, but he's our head coach so let's get behind him."
Another fan, Damian, says: "Wouldn't have been my first choice, however got to give the bloke a chance.
"If there's money, let's see what he does in the transfer window."
Finally, Janet adds: "Let's get behind Gary and the club."
The media conference with the new manager comes to an end.
We are expecting to hear reaction from fans and some of our sports team soon, so do stay with us.
You can also share your own thoughts on the new appointment by emailing alice.cunningham@bbc.co.uk.
Image source, Stuart Howells/BBCO'Neil says he is "looking forward" to meeting the Ipswich Town players.
"From what I see, I see a group that I think I'm going to love," he says.
"I think they are fully committed to this place, fully committed to the cause - whether that be trying to stay up, or trying to bounce back up, every time I've seen them and watched them.
"They've handled themselves really well... if you watch my teams they've always been similar to that and give everything.
"We try and be difficult to beat, we try and make if difficult for the opposition."
Mark Ashton, chief executive at Ipswich Town, tells 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."
Image source, Stuart Howells/BBC"I want to take the fans on an incredible journey with us, the next stage of the journey, see if we can create something special," O'Neil continues to tell reporters.
"You can feel it already when I sit in the box up there and look down on the pitch, you can already feel what those Premier League games are going to be like, especially if we can get ourselves right in them and in people's faces.
"I feel like we can have a very special season."
O'Neil says the focus is to "get enough points" to stay in the Premier League.
He says he can see that the club's aim is to grow and that is what attracted him to the role.
"Coming up from the Championship we know what the challenge is like, so we embrace that first and we'll see what we can do beyond that," he adds.
O'Neil starts by telling reporters that McKenna did "incredible things", but the next steps are about stabilising Ipswich as a Premier League club.
"That's why I'm here, I've done it before," he says.
He adds that he has a "real good connection" with the club and wants to add to the memories already made in last few seasons.
Image source, PA MediaThe 43-year-old was most recently the manager of Strasbourg.
The French club finished eighth in Ligue 1 last season and reached the Europa Conference League semi-finals.
It was the first time Strasbourg had reached the last four of a European competition.
Before management, O'Neil played at Bristol City when Town's chief executive, Mark Ashton, held the same role there.
This is the first time O'Neil has been back in the Premier League since leaving Wolves in December 2024.
Image source, Getty ImagesGary O'Neil has been confirmed as the replacement for Kieran McKenna as the manager of Ipswich Town.
Image source, Getty ImagesIt has been reported that Ipswich Town were close last week to appointing Gary O'Neil as their new head coach.
He is currently the boss of French club Strasbourg.
McKenna took Ipswich Town back to the Premier League.
The new boss will have about two months to prepare the squad.
Full fixture dates were announced only a few days ago, external. The opening match of the season is at home against Sunderland, on 22 August.
Town's first away match is on 29 August. A tricky one - Man Utd at Old Trafford.
Image source, Stuart Howells/BBCNot long now. Reporters are starting to gather in the media conference room at Portman Road.
We are expecting an announcement at 16:00 BST.
Image source, Harrison Mayhew-KempHarrison Mayhew-Kemp (second from the right) was one of McKenna's many admirers
Many Ipswich Town fans were upset when McKenna stepped down as manager.
They thanked him for the way they thought he had improved the club.
Harrison Mayhew-Kemp, 22, volunteers at Ipswich Town Football Club Foundation's disability football programme.
He told the BBC that McKenna leaving was "very sad".
"McKenna will always be remembered fondly by me," he explained.
"With him, I saw wonderful things that I never thought I would.
"Always a legend. I have great faith in Ashton [Ipswich chairman and chief executive] that he will bring the right person in to take us forward though.
"This club is going in the right direction."
Image source, Getty ImagesOle Gunnar Solskjær was rumoured to be a potential replacement for McKenna
Several names have been thrown in the ring as to who could replace Kieran McKenna at Ipswich Town.
It was recently reported that Town was lining up to appoint Gary O'Neil, currently at Strasbourg in France.
Other names include former Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard, Kjetil Knutsen, Brendan Rodgers, Thomas Frank and several others.
We are expecting a press conference at Ipswich Town later this afternoon to announce who will replace Kieran McKenna as manager.
McKenna announced earlier this month he would be stepping down to spend time with family.
We have reporters down at Portman Road and we will be live streaming the press conference at the top of this page.