BREAKING: Bournemouth sack manager Gary O'Neil

Bournemouth have taken the surprise step to sack manager Gary O'Neil after he kept them in the Premier League relatively comfortably.

O'Neil came in at the beginning of last season when Scott Parker was sacked, initially as an interim boss before being given the job on a full time basis.

He went above expectation by keeping the Cherries in the top tier despite being bottom of the table for a significant amount of time during the campaign.

The news came as a shock to many considering lots of fans and pundits thought he'd done enough to be named the league's Manager of the Season.

"We can today confirm we have parted company with head coach Gary O'Neil," a statement from the club said.

"Gary leaves the club after overseeing 37 matches last season, initially on an interim basis before being formally appointed to his first head coaching role in November.

"A return of 10 wins and six draws in the Premier League was enough to maintain the club's position in the top flight, effectively securing survival with four matches remaining following a memorable run of results in April.

"AFC Bournemouth owner and chairman Bill Foley explained: "Gary's achievement last season is one I will always be grateful for. This has been a difficult decision, but it has been made with great consideration to best position ourselves ahead of the coming season.

""As a club, we have put plans in place for long-term success with improvements being made to infrastructure, most notably the development of a new state-of-the-art training facility and the ongoing discussions around upgrades to our stadium.

""We have also identified a number of significant targets in the transfer market this summer and believe this change in direction will provide us with the best platform from which to build.

""Gary will go on to have a long career as a head coach or manager, but we feel that, at this moment in time, a change is in the best interests of this football club. I would like to place on record my thanks to Gary and wish him all the best for the future."

"The appointment of a new head coach will be announced imminently."

O'Neil ended the campaign with a near 30% win record with the club in his first appointment as a manager and they finished five points clear of the relegation zone, despite losing four of the final five games of the season.

When he was first appointed as interim the team slipped to 17th and he wasn't expected to be given the job, with Marcelo Bielsa top of the club's wanted list, but he turned things around to get the role.