Former Bristol City midfielder set for Premier League manager job

Former Bristol City midfielder Gary O’Neil is set to be appointed as manager of AFC Bournemouth. O’Neill had been in interim charge since Scott Parker’s sacking but is  now primed to take the Cherries job on a permanent basis.

Bournemouth had been in talks with former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa. Bielsa was sacked in February and replaced by Jesse March at Elland Road.

Football Insider claim though that talks have collapsed with the Argentinian. Discussions reached an advanced stage and Bielsa was offered the job, but that has since collapsed.

As a result of talks with Bielsa coming to an end, O’Neil has been tipped to get the job on a permanent basis. He had been linked with the vacancy at Luton Town, but the Hatters had pushed ahead to appoint former Watford boss Rob Edwards.

The 39-year-old has overseen 12 matches with Bournemouth, winning four, drawing four and losing four. His last match before the break for the World Cup was a 3-0 win over Everton, a second consecutive victory over them after beating them in the Carabao Cup.

It is his first job in senior management and takes on the role after hanging up his boots in 2019. He finished his career having played at Bolton Wanderers.

As for O’Neil’s involvement with Bristol City, he was a player at Ashton Gate for two seasons. He made 36 appearances for the Robins and was tipped by former head coach Dean Holden to get the job in September. At Bournemouth, O’Neil has City academy graduate Lloyd Kelly. Kelly is the captain of the Dorset club.