Sources: Michael O’Neill fighting for his job at Stoke City
Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill is under growing threat of the sack, Football Insider understands.
The Irishman, 52, has overseen a mixed campaign at the Bet365 Stadium in which the highly fancied side have struggled to mount a promotion challenge.
A Stoke source has told Football Insider that O’Neill is now fighting for his job and there is a growing possibility he could be sacked at the end of the season.
O’Neill has been in charge of the Potters since November 2019 and is under contract until the summer of 2023.
It looks likely that the Staffordshire outfit, who are currently 15th in the Championship, will have to settle for mid-table mediocrity this season.
No fewer than 14 players have joined the club in 2021-22, but experienced campaigners like Phil Jagielka and highly-rated loan signings like Josh Maja have failed to have the desired impact.
As quoted by The Mirror last month (18 March), O’Neill admitted that his side’s uninspiring form could cost him his job.
He will hope tomorrow’s (18 March) visit to Blackburn Rovers can provide a morale boost, with Tony Mowbray’s side having won just two of the last 14.
Stoke then face off against Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough and Coventry City in their final three matches of the season.
O’Neill led Stoke to 15th and 14th-place finishes in his first one-and-half seasons with the club.
The job is his first in England after he spent nine years in charge of the Northern Ireland national team, whom he led to a first-ever European Championship finals in 2016.
In other news, Birmingham City boss Lee Bowyer also fighting for his job amid Craig Gardner reveal.