'I'm trying to get as high as I can in the game' - O'Neil

[Getty Images] Ipswich Town boss Gary O'Neil says "the club is in a fantastic spot" going into the 2026-27 season, but he believes "a big team effort" will be needed to preserve top-flight status. The Tractor Boys finished second in the Championship last season, claiming 23 wins from 46 games to secure automatic promotion to the Premier League. "When the opportunity came up, it didn't take me too long to decide this was the place to be," O'Neil told TownTV . "I'm really excited to be back in the Premier League at a club with so much history. "The club is in a fantastic spot and I'm looking forward to trying to put the next step onto that this season - first, by making sure we maintain our Premier League status and, secondly, aiming even higher than that if we get going well. "I'm looking forward to standing in a packed-out Portman Road, with the sun shining still, trying to take our first three points. "There was a lot to do when I came in and there is still a lot to do now, but I enjoy everything on my to-do list from the recruitment side of things, to getting to know all the players and the staff, to making sure everyone knows how much I appreciate them. "Everybody has been incredible to me so far. They know it is going to be a big team effort this season. Every point we earn will be a reflection of the work that everyone has done." On his personal managerial goals, O'Neil said: "I review things all the time to make sure I'm maximising what I can achieve as a manager. "This is a fantastic industry to be involved in because there are some fantastic things to achieve. I'm trying to get as high as I can in the game - and the journey brings me to Ipswich at the moment. "The trajectory this club has been on in the past few years makes it a fantastic opportunity. I'm thankful to the guys who trusted me with this job, now it is time to repay them and this incredible fanbase."