Gary O’Neil is currently under a long‑term contract at Strasbourg, a club owned by BlueCo, the same ownership group behind Chelsea. That means any West Ham approach would trigger a minimum seven‑figure compensation demand, and with his deal running until June 2029, Strasbourg hold all the power.
O’Neil is represented by Unique Sports Group, the agency of Will Salthouse, who is known to have close ties to one West Ham board member.
### There’s a reason Strasbourg won’t want to lose him. Since taking over in January, O’Neil has delivered 13 wins, six draws and eight defeats across 27 matches, an impressive turnaround.
Before his managerial rise, O’Neil played 48 games for West Ham between 2011–2013, scoring three goals and helping the club win the 2012 Championship Play‑Off Final under Sam Allardyce. Known as a hard‑working, tactically disciplined midfielder, he has carried those traits into his coaching career.
An experienced manager and former West Ham player
His managerial CV is already packed with drama. He kept Bournemouth in the Premier League in 2023 before being replaced by Andoni Iraola, yet was then announced as Head Coach at Wolves in August 2023, guiding them to 14th place and an FA Cup quarter‑final. The following season, with Wolves sitting 19th and four points from safety, he was dismissed in December 2024.
Despite that setback, O’Neil remains highly regarded. Strasbourg appointed him swiftly after Liam Rosenior’s short‑lived move to Chelsea and they won’t let him go easily.
### Whether West Ham are willing to pay compensation for a manager already in work remains uncertain.
Few fans would expect David Sullivan to change the habit of a lifetime and spend money on getting ‘the best’ manager available when ‘free’ ones are normally the Chairman’s pick.
Free and ready to hit the ground running: Scott Parker is likely ti be Sullivan’s preference
With **Scott Parker** currently a free agent and reportedly open to the soon to be vacant role, the cheaper, more straightforward option may prove far more appealing than triggering a buyout for O’Neil.
Reports last night suggest Mark Noble is keen on Parker’s arrival, and the odds seem to be strongly in Parker’s corner.