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Ipswich Town are heading into their first Premier League campaign since promotion knowing there will be no margin for error – but their record-breaking swoop for Brazilian striker Emersonn from Toulouse shows they are prepared to swing big to stay up.
The 21-year-olds reported £24 million plus add-ons fee is a club-record.
That ambition is mirrored in the dugout, where former Liverpool academy coach Gary O’Neil has taken charge after his stint with Strasbourg in Ligue 1.
O’Neil guided the French side into the latter stages of the Conference League last season.
For Liverpool fans, his name is a familiar one from his time working alongside the club’s youth structures and his Premier League spells with Bournemouth and Wolves, but this is arguably the biggest challenge of his career: keeping a promoted side in a ruthless division.
And now the Tractor Boys have announced some of O’Neil’s backroom staff. Among them is first-team assistant Tim Jenkins, who has been at Liverpool’s academt structure.
Jenkins served as Head of Development Analysis and U23 assistant coach from 2012 to 2020, then as Head of Development Analysis and U18 assistant coach between 2020 and 2022, before a brief spell as Head of Individual Development at Kirkby.
Now, stepping into the assistant manager role under O’Neil, Jenkins will be tasked with translating that academy experience into first‑team survival,
Ipswich also confirmed the arrival of former Reds youth coach Neil Critchley as part of the new backroom team.
Meanwhile, O’Neil said of his appointment last month:
“I have followed the progress the club has made over the last few years closely and to now have the opportunity to lead Ipswich Town in the Premier League is something I am hugely excited by.”
“There is a strong vision and ambition at this club and I am fully aware of the responsibility that brings, given how much it means to its supporters and to the community of Ipswich and Suffolk.”
“We all know the challenge ahead as we prepare for the season together and I’m excited to meet everyone and get to work.”
Ipswich begin their Premier Leage campaign at home against Sunderland on Saturday, 22 August.