We just couldn’t get to the point where we could jump the club forward. They think that’s a lack of passion - a lack of passion is when you’re driving away (from the training ground) at one in the afternoon to play golf. Maybe supporters thought I didn’t because I don’t jump around the technical area. “I had, and have, a real affinity with the club. I did it always in the best interests of the club - I was totally invested in it. I made a lot of tough longer-term decisions around players and staff and I had to correct a lot of things to help the club move forward. “I felt a bit empty because I genuinely wanted the club to do well. We’ll never agree on that and we’re fine with that. As club owner, he felt it was the right thing to do. He’s a really good guy and I think he found it hard to do. O’Neill, in an honest, in-depth interview with The Athletic, said: “It was difficult because I’d never had it before.

He oversaw a busy summer transfer window before this term, although there were only three permanent senior signings – and one of those was the emergency addition of Aden Flint when Souttar suffered a set-back in rehabilitation – in what would be the final 12 months of the most difficult three-year Financial Fair Play cycle.īut after the fifth league game of this campaign, a deflating home defeat to Alex Neil’s Sunderland, he was sacked by joint-chairman John Coates – and swiftly replaced by Neil. READ MORE: Stoke City appoint 'specialist agency' to build new recruitment team

READ MORE: Stark reality of Stoke City finances explained as £338m claim made Stoke ended up in 14th twice, 17 points adrift of the top six in 2021, 13 adrift in 2022. In both cases, a finger could be pointed to a bad injury to a key player or two Tyrese Campbell, Harry Souttar and Nick Powell in particular. His two full seasons were similar, strong starts that lost momentum at the turn of the year. First up he had to keep the team in the Championship then try to build a team that could challenge for promotion while in the background needing to turnaround finances to stay on the right side of EFL rules. O'Neill starts a new era as Northern Ireland boss on Wednesday evening in San Marino, retaking the position he left to accept a multi-faceted challenge at the bet365 Stadium. Michael O’Neill insists he had and still has a real affinity with Stoke City as he reflects on his 'Snakes & Ladders' three years as manager.

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