Key Leeds United Premier League rivals reach new manager agreement after shock exit
One of Leeds United's new Premier League rivals look set to appoint their latest manager.
One of Leeds United’s new Premier League rivals for the 2026/27 season are reportedly close to confirming a managerial appointment.
Ipswich Town secured automatic promotion from the Championship last season after finishing second, behind Coventry City. The Tractor Boys secured an instant return to the Premier League with their third promotion in four years under impressive boss Kieran McKenna.
As has been the norm in recent years, Ipswich will be among the early favourites for relegation and undoubtedly a team Leeds will look to finish above. The Suffolk club struggled during their 2024/25 top-flight relegation and will be taking a second swing at the Premier League without their much-loved head coach.
McKenna made the surprising decision to leave Ipswich earlier this month, stepping away from his role to take a break from football entirely. It left Portman Road chiefs heading into an important summer managerless, but that looks set to change amid reports they are close to appointing Gary O’Neil.
Multiple reports, including from the Athletic’s David Ornstein, have recently reported on progress between Ipswich and O’Neil with Fabrizio Romano claiming on Saturday morning an agreement had been reached on terms. He reported via X that only formal steps were to follow.
O’Neil has been in France since January when he was appointed to take charge of RC Strasbourg. The Ligue 1 club lost Liam Rosenior to Chelsea - with both owned by American consortium BlueCo - and managed only an eight-place finish under the Englishman alongside a semi-final defeat in the Europa Conference League.
The 43-year-old enjoyed mixed fortunes during his two previous Premier League managerial stints, at Bournemouth and Wolves. He kept the Cherries up in 2022/23 before being replaced by the hugely impressive Andoni Iraola, while at Molineux he oversaw a 14th-place finish in 2023/24 before being sacked the following December - coincidentally, following a defeat to Ipswich.
O’Neil will have plenty of time to get Ipswich playing his way before they travel to Elland Road on December 5. Leeds then head to Portman Road for the reverse fixture on May 1, each team’s fifth-to-last fixture.