Town have announced that general manager of football operations and academy manager Lee O’Neill will be leaving the club at the end of the season.

Former academy player O’Neill was promoted to the role of general manager of football operations late in 2018, while continuing as academy manager, essentially replacing managing director Ian Milne, who had left his position at Portman Road.

A former Woodbridge Town player and PE teacher, whose father Tommy was in the Blues’ 1975 FA Youth Cup-winning team, O’Neill had been appointed to the academy manager’s job in 2016 after two years as assistant to Bryan Klug having initially returned to the academy as a part-time coach in 2007.

A Loughborough University graduate, O’Neill had also been the academy’s head of sports science.

CEO Mark Ashton told the official website: “The club would like to place on record its gratitude to Lee for his support over what has been a period of transition. Lee’s role has changed in several ways over the past year, and he felt it was the right time to pursue other opportunities.

“Lee departs as a friend of the club and will keep his role on the Community Trust board of trustees. We wish him all the best on his next journey.”

O’Neill added: “It has been an honour and privilege to have been involved with my hometown club since I was 13 years old. To say I’ve had the chance, to play, coach and manage aspects of this great club is something I will never forget.

“I’m extremely proud of the male and female academy programmes, which both have exciting talent coming through. Furthermore, the senior teams are thriving under Kieran McKenna and Joe Sheehan's management, making the training ground a very positive place to work.

“I feel I’m leaving the club in a strong place. GameChanger 20 Ltd has lots of new and exciting ideas for the future of Ipswich Town, and under the senior leadership of Mike O’Leary and Mark Ashton, the future looks bright.”

Photo: TWTD

trueblues78 added 15:37 - Apr 13 Good luck Lee. Thanks for all your effort in what have been very tough times.
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matty81 added 15:38 - Apr 13 Thanks for everything you did for the club especially the last 4 years in exceptionally difficult circumstances. Good luck Lee.
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Bazza8564 added 16:03 - Apr 13 Doesnt surprise me, expect another very high profile appointment within the next few days to replace him. Glad Lee is staying on with the CT though, his family has an ITFC pedigree and he has served us well..
3

Suffolkboy added 16:10 - Apr 13 A thoroughly honest and very capable man who has been , and will be, the most loyal of ITFC supporters – and whom we've found most helpful and approachable ! We wish you every bit of good luck going and success in the years ahead ., COYB
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BeattiesBackPocket added 16:14 - Apr 13 Ipswich through and through and all the very best of luck to him. Already seeing muppets on other sites slating him but the fact is he was given the role of puppet by Evans and was on a hiding to nothing with the club in rapid decline as the mouth of Evans so not deserved in my opinion. Feel sorry for the guy glad he still has something at the club.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 16:29 - Apr 13 A man who had to spend the last few years trying to play a very bad hand. Wish Lee all the best, home town boy.
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Jugsy added 16:41 - Apr 13 Glad to see the positive comments about Lee, he's one of us. Had the pleasure to meet him, always had the very best intentions for the club and put his soul into any role he had. Was certainly dealt a bad hand under the Evans regime. Best wishes, Lee.
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RegencyBlue added 17:06 - Apr 13 Evans used him as a human shield!
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Monkey_Blue added 17:15 - Apr 13 I think the positive comments are deserved. I don't doubt for a second those that have criticised him were in no way armed with the relevant facts. Hope he has some good options going forward.
2

jas0999 added 19:00 - Apr 13 Shame. Wish him well for the future.
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Bluearmy_81 added 19:31 - Apr 13 I wonder if he ever thought of resigning out of principle while Evans was destroying the club? He certainly had an impossible role under Evans
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Carberry added 19:39 - Apr 13 Must have been a very uncomfortable 12 months for him as the writing was on the wall as soon as the new owners came in and would have wanted their own in place. He was given an impossible task under Evans, who should be ashamed of himself for running the club into the ground. Lets hope he finds something to suit his talents, presumably locally as he is staying connected to the club?

2

ArnieM added 20:06 - Apr 13 Good luck Lee . In many ways the Club over the last few years have treated poorly I feel. Hope you secure a great job somewhere 👍
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cat added 20:57 - Apr 13 Good luck to the man and it's good he ain't going completely
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FrankMarshall added 23:20 - Apr 13 Good luck to him. Did a very difficult job well.
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1psw1ch added 23:23 - Apr 13 Top man,,, good luck Lee for the future and thanks for your services to the club, 👏
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KiwiBlue2 added 01:48 - Apr 14 Inevitable I guess. The new broom was always going to sweep clean and he is one of the last to go. Sometimes it does not matter how good you are or what you have done, or tried to do, the new regime want their own people. I wish him the very best of luck as he pursues new opportunities.
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Razor added 10:08 - Apr 14 Was always going to happen----surprised it took so long. He is out of his depth in the new set up but wish him well for whatever comes his way.
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blues1 added 10:54 - Apr 14 Razor. He's far from out of his depth. Like many y who've in the past, slagged him off, you clearly know little about him and his abilities. Tey looking at his li kin page and you'll see how qualified he is to have done allthe jobs he had to do under Evans. As well as being his spokesman, which led to some much undeserved criticism. As for ur commentxabout being surprised its ta9ken so long. This is his own decision to leave. Not the new owners.

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