Town have confirmed the appointment of Kieran McKenna as their new manager on a three-and-a-half-year contract with Martyn Pert as his assistant.

Northern Irishman McKenna, 35, becomes the club’s 19th full-time boss since they turned professional in 1936 and the second-youngest after Sir Alf Ramsey, who was a fortnight younger when he joined the Blues in 1955.

County Fermanagh-born McKenna was a young player with Spurs - during Blues academy coach Bryan Klug’s time at White Hart Lane - but his career was ended by a hip injury before he had made a senior appearance, although he had won seven Northern Ireland caps at U21 level.

McKenna started his career in coaching with Spurs and in 2015 began running their U18s team having worked with younger sides.

In 2016 he moved on to Manchester United where he again worked with their U18s, winning U18 Premier League North in 2017/18.

Jose Mourinho made him an assistant manager in December 2018 and he remained on Ole Gunnar Solskjær's coaching team after Mourinho’s departure along with Michael Carrick and continued to be a member of the staff under Ralf Rangnick.

The one-time Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United youngster becomes Town's second Northern Irish manager following Jim Magilton.

“I’d like to thank [Blues CEO] Mark Ashton and the owners for putting their faith in me and Martyn to take the club forward,” McKenna told the club site.

“Leaving a club like Manchester United was obviously a difficult decision, but I strongly believe in the opportunity to build something here. It feels like the right time, project and club to make my first step into first-team management.

“For now, the focus for the team has to be on a huge game on Saturday. After that, I cannot wait to meet everyone and get to work.”

Ashton said: “I’m delighted to officially welcome Kieran and Martyn to the club.

“Kieran is a highly-respected young coach who has been working at the top level of English football and with one of the biggest clubs in world football for a number of years in Manchester United.

“He comes to the club with pedigree within the game and with exciting plans about how he is going to take the team forward. When we met, there was a clear meeting of minds in terms of how we will execute the vision of this football club.

“I’d like to reiterate my thanks to John McGreal, Kieron Dyer, Rene Gilmartin and Carl Pentney for stepping up to take care of first-team duties during the interim period. They will remain in charge for Saturday’s game against Sunderland.

“Finally, I’d like to place on record our gratitude to Ed Woodward and Manchester United for their professionalism and approach.”

Speaking to Manchester United's official site, McKenna added: “It has been a great honour to work for Manchester United for the last five years.

“When I arrived as U18s lead coach in 2016, I had the privilege to work within a world-leading youth development system, coaching excellent talent in a truly fantastic environment.

“I’ll always be grateful to Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. I have learnt so much during the past four years and it was a pleasure to be part of such a dedicated group of staff.

“I would like to thank Ralf Rangnick, I have really enjoyed the short time I have worked with him and I really appreciate his understanding throughout this process.

“From the start of my coaching career, it has always been my ultimate ambition to move into football management and I now have a fantastic opportunity to do that at Ipswich Town, an amazing club with a fantastic history.

“I want to thank the staff and players that I have worked with over the years and, of course, wish Ralf and this incredible club all the best for the future.”

Red Devils football director John Murtough said: “Kieran is a hugely talented coach who has been a real asset to the club during his time here.

“Working with the U18s, he was instrumental in the development of many of our younger players, who then went on to be regulars in the first team.

“He then went on to become a key part of the first-team coaching set-up, where his detailed approach and unstinting hard work have been valued and important.

“Now he has the chance to forge his own path as a manager and everyone at Manchester United wishes him the very best.”

McKenna and Pert will watch Saturday’s match against Sunderland before they appear at a press conference on Monday when they will start their roles at the club in earnest.

The new duo's first game in charge will be the Boxing Day trip to Gillingham.

New Blues assistant boss Pert joined the Red Devils under long-time friend Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s management in 2019.

A former 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 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

brassy added 22:27 - Dec 16 well pleased with the new management team i think top 6 is to much to ask coybs.
0

cromwellblue added 22:27 - Dec 16 For me it ticks one box, I'm surprised/intrigued by this appointment. Much better than the feared reaction of disappointment at some journeyman. Surely few if any have a genuine insight into this guy so let's give him a chance and remember that Rome was not built in a day. Fingers crossed we can get a bounce that none of the last 4 managers brought.
3

docsavage52 added 22:28 - Dec 16 Welcome to ITFC, hope you here for he long haul, and back on track to where the club should be and the fans deserve.
4

Bert added 22:32 - Dec 16 If one of the biggest clubs in the world rate these two guys then that's good enough for me. They would not drop down into this league without giving thought to what is needed and how coaching should be undertaken. Yes, we have a great history but that's long gone but never forgotten . Could this be a new era of modernising our club ? I hope so.
6

Europablue added 22:36 - Dec 16 Bluefish11 I'd complain if we got Southgate in. I don't rate him that highly. I'm happy with this appointment though!
2

RobsonWark added 22:40 - Dec 16 Sir Alf Ramsey was 35 when he began his managerial career at ITFC and he won the title for us :)
2

algarvefan added 22:42 - Dec 16 Don't ask me why, but I think this is really going to work, he must have impressed at interview and his CV for his age is impressive. Glad it's a team of two as well. Welcome to the club Kieran & Martyn, as the Yazoo song said 'The only way is up' so lets hope so.
4

1Warky added 22:45 - Dec 16 Delighted with this appointment. Very Ipswich in my view. We all know we are at rock bottom and it will take a good mind and a lot of effort to sort it. Please give him time and let's all get behind him. Welcome Kieran and good luck to you.
5

RobsonWark added 22:47 - Dec 16 Sir Alf Ramsey was 35 when he began his managerial career , his first managerial job, at ITFC when we were in Division 3 in 1955. His record with us: Division 3 League Champions 1957 Division 2 League Champions 1961 Division 1 League Champions 1962 The omens are looking good for Kieran :)
3

DaGremloid added 22:48 - Dec 16 Quietly excited about this. I think a manager with this background is just what we need. No matter he hasn't managed a club before - he has to start somewhere. He's got experience all right at the highest level and the big plus for me - a quality assistant is on board, which was glaringly missing previously. Saxonblue - LOVE your observation about Robson/Mourinho!
5

blueboy1981 added 23:02 - Dec 16 Well, what will transpire ??? Thinking retrospectively, it was one hell of an ask and expectation by the Club to expect Cook to get it right in such a short time - after such a massive, and required clear out of the dead wood we had. On a 3.5 year Contract - is McKenna going to be expected much the same of ? - or is this a longer term plan of expectation ? - or are the Club going to have to pay out yet more on another Contract Termination ? Either / or - it's a pretty safe deal for McKenna to get his hands on …. !!! Must admit I'm not as sure about Ashton and the Board / Owners as I was initially. Whatever - the Supporters must now to a person, get 100% behind the Club. Essential time now to do that.

-1

DavefromWatford added 23:20 - Dec 16 Apparently the Man u players didn`t like him because he was dry & teacherly. good then if the players don`t give 100% they will get detention lol. I hope it all works out for him , All the best son. Come on you Tractor Boys.
2

Stato added 23:26 - Dec 16 The supporters will blow the roof off Portman Road on Saturday and Sunderland will be gutted to be facing this fixture at this time. Please no more sniping at so called moaners as just be nice to see us all get behind the team and push for an exciting end to the season
8

TractorfactorSteve added 23:26 - Dec 16 Scott Duncan was appointed from Man Utd and offered a higher wage at Town. When I was a kid he was spoken of with fondness for what he did for our club, taking them from the same tier as we now find ourselves in To the one above, albeit for just one season. Let's hope this lad can surpass those achievements.
1

KernewekBlue added 00:10 - Dec 17 It is refreshing to see a young, aspiring head coach given the opportunity to make his mark in management with ITFC, rather than someone who has previously tried and failed somewhere else... the experienced regular joes haven't worked out well here, so it's good to get some raw talent with a decent CV through the door who will have all the ambition he needs to have a right go at turning our fortunes around. Also good to see he is bringing an experienced number two with him to bounce ideas off and give him all the support he might need along the way... How Cook might have benefitted from such a situation we can only ponder on. I certainly don't expect him to have immediate success but I would welcome all and any improvements he might make short term to the tactical side of things and to the results. If the results don't change over the next few games, I know one or two that post here will be only too happy to start the "We told you so" and "McKenna Out" chants ringing around this site, but I would urge the true fans not to buy into that doom-mongering too early and for God's sake, give the lad a chance to find his feet, learn the strengths and weaknesses of the players we have at our disposal and formulate a plan to firstly consolidate our current status and then to push on to promotion back to The Championship. Clear ideas, good communication, sound tactics, formation flexibility and building player/team confidence are surely now the most important aspects to concentrate on in the shorter term... get those things right and watch us fly. By the way, algarvefan, it wasn't Yazoo who sang "The only way is up!", it was Yaz & The Plastic Population. I knew what you meant though. Let's hope that sentiment still rings true come the end of this season. COYB

4

Karlosfandangal added 00:11 - Dec 17 McKenna out Am I the first to say it
-3

WiltsBlue added 00:17 - Dec 17 Welcome to Portman Road, Kieran. Just what the club needs, a fresh start with a new younger manager who wants to make his own mark into managing and what better place to do it. I just hope he gets the chance to strengthen the squad in January. That fresh start beginning Saturday by getting behind the team and a warm and welcoming standing ovation to our new manager.
2

KernewekBlue added 00:40 - Dec 17 I take it, Karlosfandangal, you say that in jest? In all seriousness, we need to pull together as club and fans to give us the optimum chance of success. Onwards, and very hopefully upwards from now on with stability and finally, some realised ambition!
0

Monkey_Blue added 00:52 - Dec 17 Let's hope he's welcomed enthusiastically by Saturdays huge crowd even though he'll just be sat in the stands. Anyone who has routinely accused me of being negative about everything was just a Cook fanboy who wanted to twist my opinions as being somehow based in a desire to be negative no matter what. BS given my support of most managers this club has had. I'll only be negative if I feel that's what reality demands. 😉 COYB💙

2

abandon_hope1978 added 00:58 - Dec 17 As long as he brings in new staff I would welcome him with open arms and an open mind. Hopefully he will relieve ALL current staff of their positions within coaching roles as they have proven time and again to be abject failures. I include Kieron Dyer in this who somehow drifts along in the background, professing his desire to manage the club whilst offering absolutely nothing positive or beneficial to our progress.

-4

CraigEdwards added 01:00 - Dec 17 Just be patient and give the lad the time. We can all play a part by instead of moaning all the time encouragement is required. COYBs
1

Reusers_Tash added 03:12 - Dec 17 I think this is a good time to take stock of where we have come from and where we are now. The club is now in better hands, a good CEO with intent and money backing him. Gotten rid of poor management (not Cook as he wasn't given a lot of time given the magnitude of change of personnel). Improved the playing staff and now need to get them better organised and coached to push forward. Have a new hungry manager with an experienced number 2 to support him. In short we have plenty to be happy about compared to where we were as a club.

2

bluewarrior added 03:27 - Dec 17 Trying to stick to the facts rather than emotion. An impeccable pedigree, clearly hungry and ambitious to take the step down - and doubting it would be a money driven thing - but also ballsy to take on an ailing club whilst the likes of Lampard are happy to sit on the fence and wait for something bigger and better. Hoping that the players will listen to and be motivated by such a highly regarded boss but it remains concerning that they didn't lift themselves for the manager that brought them to the club and regardless that they allowed themselves to put on the Barrow sh1te show when they must have known a new manager was in the offing. Maybe they're thick but you have to question their desire and that's my biggest fear because we don't need another changing room clear out!

2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:38 - Dec 17 Looks like a very exciting combination. I hereby revise my previous post -Barrow plan of ”put them all up for sale” as I believe these two can maybe get something out of what we already have. I look forward to low-key interviews. They can be as teacherly as you like as long as they make sense. Ideally, we will grow and develop, maybe with some exciting new additions further down the line. But now is not the time for a full-scale clearout. The transformation will take time, so more patience may be needed before we see results. I'm not expecting miracles this season. The main thing our new bosses need now is our support. COYB!

0

ipswichone added 05:40 - Dec 17 I'm very excited about this appointment. We have gone a different direction for manager,which tells me a lot of thought went into it.has all good credentials, which is giving me loads of good vibes.can see loads of positivity now at club,with moving forward into a successful future for club
2

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls