Manchester United first-team coach Martyn Pert is set to join prospective new Blues boss Kieran McKenna at Portman Road.

As reported earlier, Town are in advanced talks with McKenna regarding the management vacancy at Portman Road.

Pert joined the Red Devils under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management in 2019 and like McKenna was kept on by new boss Ralf Rangnick.

According to PA, Pert will be McKenna’s number two at Portman Road with the appointments expected to be announced tomorrow.

A one-time Norwich City youth player, Norfolk-born Pert started his coaching career with the Canaries' academy where he trained their U14s before joining Cambridge City as their academy coach.

As part of his MSc in Sports Science, the 44-year-old visited Brondby, Ajax, Heerenveen, Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and AC Milan to take a look at their coaching.

From June 2003 he spent six months with the New York Yankees as a fitness and conditioning coach before a spell with the LA Lakers and then a stint at West Brom.

Pert, who played in non-league for Great Yarmouth Town and Dereham, will know CEO Mark Ashton from Watford where he was conditioning coach between March 2005 and November 2008.

He moved on to the same role at Fulham from January 2009 and June the same years before returning to Vicarage Road from July 2009 and September 2010.

Pert was Aidy Boothroyd’s assistant manager at Coventry from September 2010 until March 2011 prior to a spell in the same position at FC Baniyas in the UAE from November 2011 and May 2012.

He was assistant head coach with the Bahrain national team between June 2011 and December 2012, then was fitness coach and assistant coach at Cardiff City from June 2013 until January 2014.

Between March 2014 and October 2018, Pert was the assistant head coach at the Vancouver Whitecaps in Canada.

Photo: Action Images

Drifter3012 added 17:53 - Dec 16 Never heard of either of them, but maybe a young keen manager ready to kick butt is needed with our current squad. I wait in expectation.
4

SpiritOfJohn added 17:53 - Dec 16 Good luck to them both. Reminds me of the good old days when we pinched Man United's manager. Yes it's true - look it up!
2

ghostofescobar added 17:54 - Dec 16 When we sack him he becomes an ex-Pert.
25

buzbyblue added 17:56 - Dec 16 Thanks Ghost that actually made me chuckle
1

ITFC62 added 18:11 - Dec 16 ... and I am in danger of becoming an ex-tractor fan!! (Not really!)
3

Karlosfandangal added 18:15 - Dec 16 Let's hope he stays longer with us than all the other teams he has been with
4

jong75 added 18:18 - Dec 16 Really not sure about these appointments. In my very humble opinion, a Neil Warnock is what we need. Someone with experience, who would take no nonsense, good man management, who would kick arse when required. This is Ashtons, 1st real test . I work with people from Bristol who dont rate Ashton at all. Lets see.
-1

Pilgrimblue added 18:24 - Dec 16 Brave appointments, hope we have the same outcome as Brighton who went young! Patience needed by all of us
2

blueinscotland added 18:25 - Dec 16 Managers have to start somewhere - think we need someone a bit unproven to be honest, and at least this time we'll actually have a number 2 (with decent experience too). Either way they both deserve our full support - quite obvious from both Cook's tenure and recent games since that, as is often the case, the players themselves are the ones who need to step up. I'd rather we harass them than immediately jump at the manager at the first opportunity.

3

ElginCityBlue added 18:35 - Dec 16 He's been a busy boy, wasn't he also Red One in the Red Arrows?
1

ihatecanaries added 18:37 - Dec 16 A few loanees from united in January might just kick start our faltering season
1

therein61 added 18:39 - Dec 16 If they come in then at least we have two guys who have worked together(and Rangnick kept them on and he's no bad judge) and can bounce ideas off each other unlike cook who was for all his bluster and panic appointments of a waste of space coaching team like a fish out of water without Richardson.
4

Suffolkboy added 18:40 - Dec 16 Certainly look like an experienced pairing who between them have covered many aspects and angles of running ,coaching and team/ individual physicality ! Cannot see any of our squad pulling the wool with these two ! Wish them every bit of success and good luck - a new team with exciting potential ! We all hope the ride is thrilling ! Best of luck ! COYB
7

Monkey_Blue added 18:50 - Dec 16 Think of their knowledge of Manure's younger pros? Could see a couple of them coming our way on loan soon. This guy has had a very interesting & varied high level career:
0

pennblue added 18:52 - Dec 16 Refreshing approach to recruitment this time, and appears to fit into a proper footballing strategy. Well done the CEO and the board for sticking to a plan. I would have gone for a short term fix, but the approach taken is the right one.
7

jas0999 added 19:01 - Dec 16 This is risky. It will either be a huge success or we battle to stay in the league. Time will tell. These guys have no experience.
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Stato added 19:09 - Dec 16 These guys have to hit the ground running and finish higher than our current position to demonstrate their skills. I don't wanna hear all the unambitious stuff about it not being their team. This group of players were joint favourites to win the league with Sunderland on day one of the season before we got Morsy, Celina and Walton. Wishing them every bit of good luck and good fortune with is a big challenge

1

townthroughmyveins added 19:42 - Dec 16 Oh dear. He has bounced from pillar to post and does not seem to stay anywhere for very long. Wont be with us for more than 6 months after this club realizes the Hugh mistake its about to make in appointing Mckenna. At this moment in time i think my 45 years support of this team is about to run its course. These are really sad times in an era that had promised so much change for the better. RIP ITFC.

-3

GB1 added 20:10 - Dec 16 We've gone with managers with loads of experience, loads or previous promotions, yet they've all failed. Now we're taking a different approach, one I'm willing to try, yet our fans moan they've no experience!! Honestly, you lot are so ridiculous!! Where do good experienced managers get their experience? In the lower leagues!! Where are we??
6

norfolkbluey added 20:15 - Dec 16 Bringing in a team double should in theory be much better than one with add on's. I really hope this works as its been a torrid time for loyal supporters. Cook's record was woeful in terms of wins against losses and surely with Mac and Pert together they can bring the good times back to Portman Road. Promotion is still a possibility on paper but its now a big ask but COYB the 'f*t lady' hasn't finished singing yet!

3

Marcus added 20:37 - Dec 16 jong75 - have to disagree. We've gone down that route so many times without success. We need a young tracksuit manager who can inspire what we have, have good connections and a competent assistant. I'm just seeing ticks with this combination.
1

bobble added 21:02 - Dec 16 burley has more experience and a proven record of success with us...
0

herfie added 21:03 - Dec 16 I want a managerial team able to look players in the eyes and decide whether they're truly fit to wear the shirt. Willing to show, through performances, that they're willing to give 110%, that being second best is unacceptable and loyalty to the club, and the team, is the most important thing in their professional lives. Should anyone not meet those basic requirements, or believe they are above criticism through misplaced arrogance, then they should be booted out. A clear firm, but fair, management ethos should be put in place from day 1. Sub standard performances, or lack of effort, will not be tolerated under any circumstances. No trying to please everyone all of the time. Then get stuck in to training, player assessment and tactics. Oh yes, and scoring goals and winning football matches!

0

ArnieM added 22:06 - Dec 16 Older head/ young head coaching combination sounds good to me , and more likely to be accepted by the players. I like it.
1

Bergholtblue added 08:49 - Dec 17 I'm going to give them 10 games, like I did with Cook, before saying whether this was a good appointment or not.
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