Blues boss Kieran McKenna has been speaking about his relationship with the club’s US owners on the day on which the club is celebrating a year since the Gamechanger 20 takeover.

“I've had a few good conversations with the guys in the States on Zoom and obviously met them when they were across,” McKenna said.

“Ed [Schwartz] was across not so long ago, so I got a chance to spend a little bit of time with him, and obviously got to spend a little bit of time with the guys from the Three Lions when they were across.

“Most of the dialogue and out on a daily and weekly basis is obviously with [CEO] Mark [Ashton] and he's in constant communication with the Americans and they're very much interested and involved in how things are developing.

“They've been great. They've been really supportive every time I've spoken to them, they've been really supportive and all the communication and feedback through Mark has been really positive.

“They're really enjoying what we're doing with the team, enjoying the idea that we have for the club, and it's very much aligned with our idea of how we want to build a football.

“So it's been a really positive relationship so far. They've been really good with their feedback and really supportive, and I’m looking forward to getting to speak to them a little bit more and meet them a little bit more, hopefully in the off-season and going into the summer.”

In many ways a year on, the Gamechanger project has still only really just started with work scheduled at both Portman Road and Playford Road in the summer.

“There's plenty going on,” McKenna continued. “There is lots going on behind the scenes and that's an important part of what we're doing. We have to build all the different aspects of the football club up to the level where we want them to be.

“I think it's been publicised some of the work that's going on at the stadium, same here with the training ground, same with staff improvements, same with player recruitment.

“It's about developing the infrastructure of the football club again because we think developing that infrastructure will set us up for more sustainable success and a sustainable and bright future.

“A lot of that work at times you don't see the fruits of the labour until quite far way down the line, but it's the right thing to do and the right thing to build the club.

“And thankfully that the ownership group are very much behind that and that's how they like to develop their projects as well, over a longer period.

“That's a part of the job that myself and the staff, and certainly Mark and his staff, are enjoying and are looking to keep working on the different aspects of the club.”

Photos: TWTD/Matchday Images

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 16:47 - Apr 7 All good, but ultimately it will be success on the pitch that counts. And the Yanks won't wait forever. But at the moment, all feedback is very positive, and I'm optimistic they will see the project through.
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WoodfordTim added 17:02 - Apr 7 Pity about this season with all the excitement and expectations that we had last August, but all of us are looking forward to 2022/23 now. Personally speaking and after 50 years of living in Suffolk, I feel that I am in fairy land compared to what has gone on in the past 20 years. Wow, to be a Town fan now!!! COYB, so excited for the future.
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Bazza8564 added 18:15 - Apr 7 Investment in a club as run down as we were was always going to be a medium term project. They themselves were talking about minimum 7 year plan a year ago and we are in a much better position now than 12 months ago, its not just about league position its about infrastructure planning and investment. As that improves there will be a knock on effect with the football and the league position. Money alone doesn't build Rome in a day, we need to have a little patience and continue to trust....

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ButchersBrokenNose added 20:11 - Apr 7 For me, this is the key quote from this interview: "And thankfully that the ownership group are very much behind that and that's how they like to develop their projects as well, over a longer period." This tells me KMcK did his research on Gamechanger and how they run their other clubs before he took the Town job. Not surprising, really, considering how he runs the first team, but another example of how diligent he is, and an indicator that our club is in good hands.

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