O’Neil could be back at Fratton Park in weeks after confirmed exit news
Portsmouth fans are looking forward to the return of Championship football to Fratton Park in the coming weeks.
John Mousinho’s side have bought well during the summer transfer window, and there will be a lot of optimism among the supporters after the team’s strong finish to last season.
They may also be welcoming fan favourite Gary O’Neil back to Fratton Park within weeks following a confirmed managerial departure.
O’Neil among the favourites to take vacant Sheffield Wednesday job
Portsmouth’s Championship rivals Sheffield Wednesday parted ways with their manager Danny Rohl on Tuesday, and O’Neil is one of the favourites to take over as boss.
At TalkSPORT Bet, you could get odds of 8/1 for O’Neil to be the next Sheffield Wednesday manager. Only three named had shorter odds than that.
These odds were set before Rohl’s departure, but they give a strong hint about who could be recruited as the next manager at Hillsborough.
Pompey welcome Sheffield Wednesday to Fratton Park on 20 September in what will be their sixth game of the Championship season.
The Owls are among the favourites to be relegated due to their financial troubles. Some of their players have recently terminated their contracts due to being paid late on several occasions this year.
https://x.com/swfc/status/1950134256027488739Portsmouth will be looking for bright start to Championship season
Portsmouth have signed four players so far this summer, all of whom look likely to improve the quality of the squad.
They should also benefit from several players recovering from long-term injuries during the summer.
There are plenty of reasons for optimism at Fratton Park, and fans will be expecting Mousinho’s side to get off to a bright start in the Championship.
| Date | Fixture |
| 9 August | Oxford (A) |
| 16 August | Norwich (H) |
| 23 August | West Bromwich (A) |
| 30 August | Preston (H) |
| 14 September | Southampton (A) |
| 20 September | Sheffield Wednesday (H) |
They have been dealt a set of winnable fixtures in the opening months of the season. Certainly, their first three home games – against Norwich, Preston and Sheffield Wednesday – should yield some points.
That should create a solid foundation for Portsmouth to improve on last season’s 16th-place finish in the Championship.
It could be a lot tougher for Wednesday, whose squad has been decimated by financial mismanagement. O’Neil might be one of the favourites to take over, but he may not want to work for a club with so many off-the-pitch issues.
If the Owls’ new manager can keep them up, that would surely be regarded as a successful season.
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