According to Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley, the decision to part ways with Gary O’Neil has been made in the best interests of the football club.
Bournemouth SACK boss Gary O’Neil
Last season, O’Neil took charge of 37 games, initially as an interim manager, before being appointed as the permanent manager in November. He had signed a one-and-a-half-year contract with an option for an additional year.
The club has stated that they will soon announce the appointment of a new head coach. When asked about O’Neil’s sudden departure, Foley stated, “I will always be grateful for Gary’s achievements last season. This has been a challenging choice, but it was made after careful consideration to position ourselves effectively for the upcoming season.”
Foley further elaborated on the club’s future plans, saying, “We have established long-term success plans, including infrastructure improvements such as the development of a state-of-the-art training facility and ongoing discussions regarding stadium upgrades. Additionally, we have identified significant targets in the transfer market for this summer. We believe that this change in direction will provide us with the strongest foundation to build upon.”
While acknowledging that Gary will continue to have a successful career as a head coach or manager, Foley expressed the club’s belief that a change is currently necessary for their best interests. He concluded by expressing gratitude to Gary and wishing him the very best for his future endeavors.