Football

Bournemouth News: Gary O’Neil’s shock dismissal after securing Cherries Premier League status

June 19, 2023 1:55 pm

Scott Parker was relieved of his duties three days after their disaster 9-0 defeat to Liverpool. Gary O’Neil was brought in on an interim basis and later was formally appointed to his first head coaching role in November.

O’Neil was instrumental in guiding the Cheeire through a period of transition and maintaining their Premier League status. He ensured that they come out on top in the relegation dogfight that saw Southampton, Leeds United and Leicester City return to the Championship.

O’Neil shown the exit door

However, after overseeing 37 matches last season, O’Neil’s tenure has come to an end, marking a significant change for the club. Bournemouth displayed resilience and determination under his tutelage, achieving a return of 10 wins and six draws in the Premier League.

In a statement released by the club, owner and chairman, Bill Foley expressed his gratitude for O’Neil’s achievements during his tenure as manager. The chairman acknowledged his contribution and the significant role he played in steadying the ship, ensuring Premier League continuity since taking over from Parker.

Foley shared that the decision to part ways with O’Neil was not taken lightly and the club’s leadership carefully considered the best course of action to position themselves ahead of the coming season. While acknowledging the difficult nature of the decision, the chairman highlighted the need for change to propel the club towards long-term success.

Additionally, the chairman mentioned the club’s aspirations in the transfer market, identifying significant targets for the upcoming summer. To maximize the potential of these acquisitions and provide the best platform for future growth, the decision to change the managerial direction was deemed necessary by the club’s leadership.

“Gary’s achievement last season is one I will always be grateful for. This has been a difficult decision, but it has been made with great consideration to best position ourselves ahead of the coming season.

“As a club, we have put plans in place for long-term success with improvements being made to infrastructure, most notably the development of a new state-of-the-art training facility and the ongoing discussions around upgrades to our stadium.

“We have also identified a number of significant targets in the transfer market this summer and believe this change in direction will provide us with the best platform from which to build.

“Gary will go on to have a long career as a head coach or manager, but we feel that, at this moment in time, a change is in the best interests of this football club. I would like to place on record my thanks to Gary and wish him all the best for the future.”

Bournemouth on another managerial quest

With Bournemouth seeking a fresh direction and new ideas to further their progress and ambitions in the competitive Premier League landscape, their search for a new manager will not be easy. O’Neil’s departure brings a sense of anticipation for Bournemouth fans about the hierarchy’s plans.

It will not be an easy task as Tottenham found out the hard way. They had to wait agonizingly long before appointing Ange Postecoglou. The Cherries are further down the totem pole and will have to propose an exciting program for any potential replacement.

When Parker was relieved of his duties during last season, Sean Dyche was the bookmakers’ favourite. He is now at the helm of Everton and looks unlikely to make the move. Bournemouth will have to scour the Championship for any suitable replacement. Middleborough manager, Michael Carrick can be enticed with the Premier League job offer while Frank Lampard is also in the job market after leaving Chelsea.

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