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

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:04 - Dec 17 Just listened to Kieran's video on training. This guy is intelligent and articulate. If that is being "teacherly" then it will do some of our lot good to go back to school. Impressed!
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BotesdaleBlue added 07:11 - Dec 17 Very pleased with this news. Best of luck Kieran
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BontyBlue added 07:15 - Dec 17 The direction set by this appointment confirms to me that PC was never ‘their man'. If you accept this then Gamechanger 20 were hugely generous in bankrolling the tsunami of Summer signings under his direction. I get the feeling these signings were made with an eye beyond PC's tenure and we now have a better fit of players with manager. COYB!
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Cakeman added 07:15 - Dec 17 Welcome to the club Kieran and Martyn. Another new era to be welcomed with much optimism. I do believe the remainder of this season is to be about developing team spirit which looks shot at the moment. With that I would imagine the task of establishing of who really wants to be with us will naturally develop. We probably need to offload a few and bring in a few new faces but most of that may have to wait until the summer. Still much to look forward to.

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barrystedmunds added 07:26 - Dec 17 The range of comments on here replicate exactly the reaction to the last however many managerial appointments down the years. What we ALL want of course is for this to be THE appointment. Terry Butcher summed it up for me following the debacle that was the Barrow game. We are not a big club anymore and we have to move on from the past. Regardless of the name and CV there are always risks that it wont work out as Ipswich fans know with bitter experience. Let us hope that in this case, it does. COYB.

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Burley4ever added 07:29 - Dec 17 A very bold appointment as was Alf and Bobby. I think this guy with his Norfolk!!! assistant could be just what Town need. Ashton has obviously done his homework on these two and to be praised by the special one wil be a huge advantage. I wish both of them the very best of luck and at least achieve stability at this great club.
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Tufty added 07:43 - Dec 17 THIS IS IPSWiCH where managers are given time to shine. Ramsey, Robson, Burley our three most successful all given time. So all the doubters wingers moaners please go “support” another club. Will the true blue tractor boys please stand up, cheer the team like back in the glory days, become the 12th man give it 110% from the stands no matter what. TOGETHER we can DO this. I travel 360 miles round trip to watch the games with my 8 year old grandson. He already loves the blues loves to sing, loves to watch the games and loves Wes Burns. We owe it to the next generation to play our part. IPSWICH IPSWICH COME ON THE TOWN

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therein61 added 07:50 - Dec 17 Welcome both of you to Portman Road, everybody needs to be patient and give these guys our full support.
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TR11BLU added 07:59 - Dec 17 The special two.
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:08 - Dec 17 well we will soon see if he is a good manager or not in our impending relegation battle .Good luck to him.
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TexacoCup added 08:22 - Dec 17 We could do with a new manager bounce!
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grumpyoldman added 08:28 - Dec 17 One of the good things about this appointment is there has been no overhyping of him by the experts on here! Nearly every manager, we have had has been overhyped by somebody, R Keane “ a born leader”, PJewel, P Cook, “knows what it takes to get promoted”, P Hirst “young & ambitious”, P Lambert “an experienced hand on the tiller”. All failed. The players PC brought in we're overhyped by him, few have lived up to it. Just because most of us had not heard of him before he was linked doesn't mean he is not up to the task. If you want to feel sorry for somebody it should be the person on here who said it was Neil Harris because he had been told by a source at the club! How stupid he must feel now!!!

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SickParrot added 08:42 - Dec 17 This maybe a real gamechanger. Appointing a young inexperienced manager is a gamble but a punt worth taking in my opinion. We've had a succession of experienced, previously successful managers fail to deliver so it makes sense to try something different. I wasn't previously aware of McKenna and Pert but it would appear that they're highly regarded within the game. I have no doubt that our players can improve with the expert coaching McKenna and Pert will bring. The only issue is whether they can get the Cook signings who have lacked commitment since his dismissal to engage with the new vision. We will also need to replace a few of the lightweights with players that are prepared to battle when the going is tough. I think all most fans want to see this season is a team that always gives 100%, a manager who can change tactics and formation when necessary, a mid table finish and a base from which to push for the playoffs next season.

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markchips added 08:49 - Dec 17 Having slept on this, I am more than pleased with these appointments. My main worry is that the lightweights amongst the playing staff will continue to sulk and so, if this does occur I just hope the club is ruthless enough to allow them to leave at the end of their contracts or loan them out to make space for a few United youngsters.
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shakytown added 09:00 - Dec 17 The january window is going to be the really interesting one. We really need to get some strength into the team as we are just so soft and lazy. I hope these guys have some really good connections and can get some much needed heart into the squad. Still a lot of really bad days to come i think with this lazy arrogant bunch of players.
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Barty added 09:07 - Dec 17 Best of luck Kieran - a massive challenge - Lets hope you get loads to spend in January
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mathiemagic added 09:11 - Dec 17 At 35 I suspect it will go one of two ways, he will command respect from the off due to his coaching CV and having worked with some of the best managers around or he will be scorned at by the lazy bunch we seem to have inherited and life will continue in its negative state. Hopefully its the former and I am pleased we have gone down this route but I hope the owners are ruthless enough to spot the bad eggs and get rid as soon as possible. I suspect they will be.

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Tractorboy58 added 09:11 - Dec 17 We do have a good squad and it will be interesting to see how well he can organise and motivate them. Biggest test will be on his man management skills..COYB !
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Bergholtblue added 09:11 - Dec 17 A large part of our squad are players that were attracted here by Cook. They let him down badly! Why? If it was because they no longer have it in them then things will not improve regardless of who manages them. If it was down to poor tactics and training then with these two things may pick up after a couple of weeks. I feel it may be a bit of both. So I'm writing off this season and looking forward to next, when the McKenna and Pert dream team have brought in some of their own players.

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ChrisFelix added 09:20 - Dec 17 It's a gamble but after the past 15 years I'm happy to have a young COACH in charge. Bringing with him new ideas & importantly an experienced assistant.
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naa added 09:24 - Dec 17 I'm not unhappy at this appointment at all. I think a league 1 club can either go for a league 1 manager or take a gamble. However, what I don't understand is the club's direction here. Do they want quick returns? I assumed they did considering they sacked Cook so quickly when, in reality, the poor-ish run we were on wasn't that long. But then, if you want a quick return why go for a completely untested manager? Either it's a long-term project or it isn't. The worst thing they could now do is give this fella 9 months and sack him. Total waste of time. So, let's hope they do intend to go for a long return plan. Lets remember that it took Sir Alf an dSir Bobby several years to get the team working the way they wanted.

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ringwoodblue added 09:28 - Dec 17 Bontyblue - you make a very good point that I hadn't considered. Cook looks increasingly like an Evans appointment that Gamechanger and Ashton agreed to stand by when they took over probably out of respect and to give him a fair chance to succeed. Unfortunately it didn't work out. This appointment feels so different and I really hope this one sees us turning a corner

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Roo added 09:33 - Dec 17 I like many am in the “well why the hell not camp”. The last few managers for whatever reason have not worked so am happy that we go down this route and hope for the best. Speaking to a Man Utd fan (from the northwest) he was not too complimentary and referred to the Utd sideways passing at the back and to the continual selection of Fred. Now while we won't get the “joy” of seeing Fred in a town shirt I do hope we don't go down this messing around at the back which seems to be the craze…. Well not with our current crop of players anyhow! I am cautiously optimistic which i think is the best I can muster just now given how disappointed I am with how things have gone this season…. I wish he was straight in now and not after Sunderland but it is what it is. I wonder what he will do about Bonne? Key decision that one especially given his current form. COYB

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oldelsworthyfan added 09:42 - Dec 17 Excellent appointment! Why was he on no-one's radar? This is just the person we want. And he's bringing a coach with him. From the Premiership too. Ticks all my boxes.
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rfretwell added 09:51 - Dec 17 So we now bring in two complete managerial rookies to lead a badly floundering club to the promised land. I wish them the very best of luck but it looks to me like they should be leading the coaching not managing the whole club. Neither have any high level playing experience at all either. Mourinho is a one off most probably.
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