Ipswich Town's newly-appointed manager Gary O'Neil is '100% sure' the team will stay in the Premier League this season.

O'Neil replaced Kieran McKenna in the Portman Road dugout, becoming the 20th permanent manager in the club's 90-year professional history. He takes over a newly-promoted side that will try to make a better fist of top-flight survival than two years ago.

What drove O'Neil to Ipswich Town?

O'Neil has twice kept teams in the top flight in difficult circumstances, leading Bournemouth to 15th place in 2022/23 and guiding Wolves to 14th in 2023/24. He said: "I'm 100% sure that we will stay in the Premier League this season. I sit here right now and there are no doubts in my mind."

The club's ambition

Chairman Mark Ashton said last week that aiming for fourth bottom this season would be 'defeatist' and that 'we've got to be more optimistic than that'. O'Neil added: "I think if you ask probably 14 clubs in the division, the first aim will be that (survival). But of course, we want to go on from that."

Current context

As of 26 Jun 2026, Ipswich Town's league standing is 2nd in Championship, with 84 points from 46 games, and a recent form of WDDWD. Their goal difference is +33, with 80 scored and 47 conceded. They are 11 points behind leaders Coventry in the title race. | Stat | Value | | --- | --- | | League standing | 2nd in Championship | | Points | 84 | | Goal difference | +33 | | Goals scored | 80 | | Goals conceded | 47 | | Recent form | WDDWD | | Title race | 11 points behind Coventry |

O'Neil believes Ipswich Town can become a 'very, very big club' in the English game, citing Bournemouth and Brighton as examples of teams that have achieved success after promotion. He said: "I think this place has that potential to go on and kick to that. We have a few steps along the way that we need to make.