June 19, (THEWILL) – Bournemouth have taken the footballing world by surprise with the announcement of the departure of their manager, Gary O’Neil, despite his notable achievement of securing the club’s safety in the English Premier League.
O’Neil, who took charge at the end of August after the dismissal of Scott Parker, impressed as a caretaker manager and was subsequently offered a contract until the end of the season with an option for a further 12 months. O’Neil, who oversaw 37 matches last season, first as interim coach before being formally appointed in November, led the team to an impressive record of 10 wins and six draws, effectively securing their EPL survival with four games remaining.
In an official statement released on Monday morning, the club confirmed the separation: “We can today confirm we have parted company with head coach Gary O’Neil.” On his part, club owner and chairman, Bill Foley, expressed his gratitude for O’Neil’s accomplishments, saying: “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.”
Foley emphasised the club’s long-term plans for success, including infrastructure improvements such as the development of a state-of-the-art training facility and ongoing discussions regarding stadium upgrades. The Chairman concluded by stating that a new head coach would be announced soon.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
