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

Wooly74 added 10:11 - Dec 17 Sorry, not at all impressed with this appointment, listening to his video above I fell asleep after the first question. Hardly an inspiring voice is he and a remark apparently toy made by most of the first team squad at Utd. What we needed now was a proven manager at this level, Karl Robinson was my hope and first choice, just look what he has done at Oxford over the past few is truly brilliant against the higher paying clubs at this level. I hope I am proven wrong and whilst many may be quick to mark me down, I'm sure there are many others out there who are thinking the same?

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MagicMoe added 10:14 - Dec 17 I like this appointment (for once), feels like the sky's the limit. Let's see how much greyer his hair gets managing this lot, if he can turn Edwards into the finished article, he'll be worth his wages for that alone!
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bedsitfc added 10:22 - Dec 17 Bluefish - I would definitely be unhappy with Southgate But I am very happy about McKenna
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Razor added 10:27 - Dec 17 Hey everyone what a brave,bold, and imaginative appointment this is and I am buzzing again for tomorrow!! Sunderland were so lucky the other week lets make PR rock and give them a thrashing. Lots of work to be done in January and hopefully it may mean getting on board some youngsters from Ma U who can actually greate chances by going FORWARD!!
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Razor added 10:27 - Dec 17 Hey everyone what a brave,bold, and imaginative appointment this is and I am buzzing again for tomorrow!! Sunderland were so lucky the other week lets make PR rock and give them a thrashing. Lots of work to be done in January and hopefully it may mean getting on board some youngsters from Ma U who can actually greate chances by going FORWARD!!
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Cheshire_Blue added 10:59 - Dec 17 This man has the right pedigree and is clearly well thought of at one of the world's top teams. I am optimistic that he can restore my faith in ITFC
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Marinersnose added 11:10 - Dec 17 Welcome to the club. You will be a massive upgrade on Cook who has been unprofessional and ill prepared on too many occasions. Unfortunately he has left you with a team of losers who lack hunger and desire to move this club forward. I'm sure that with the contacts home and abroad McK can get this club moving in the right direction. Good luck with the project.
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BangaloreBlues added 11:28 - Dec 17 Very interesting and different, and a risk that will hopefully pay off. Admit I knew nothing about them before now, so I hope they take the opportunity by the horns and shows they're capable of the job. Until then, I am neither excited nor disappointed - they just need to prove themselves.
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yorkieblue62 added 11:33 - Dec 17 Fantastic. Just what I have been wanting for a long time - a young progressive coach. But please give him time. miracles don't happen overnight, unless you're Max Verstappen!!
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DaGremloid added 11:35 - Dec 17 Tufty - are you really as daft as you appear in your post? Just because I saw through Cook from the very beginning I should go and support another club? Really? You might want to re-read what you said there.
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Linkboy13 added 11:36 - Dec 17 Like all managerial appointments it's always a risk. When we appointed Cook we got a manager without a coach. Now we've got two coaches who have never managed. We've tried every other avenue apart from the foreign manager route which i was in favour of. So although this is a high risk appointment i think we got to back them one hundred percent. People are saying this is a long term appointment but as we all no if things don't go well early on the small minded fans will be calling for their heads. These guys need a pre season before i shall be judging them.

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:51 - Dec 17 hope the players respond now and get their R Cs in gear. There will be money for transfers in January so weak links can be addressed, on recent performances ,i dont envy him sorting these players out. Dont see us making playoffs ,but hopefully he can move us in right direction and we will be close at end of season. Welcome and good luck to him .coyb
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Edmundo added 12:04 - Dec 17 I think we need to stop "resetting" now, like a mad office worker with a dodgy printer connection. See if McK can get a tune out of this lot first. It's all about partnerships: Donacien-Burns was one, Bonne-Chaplin another.
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mbfletcher added 12:36 - Dec 17 will say there is a nice bit of symmetry about the appointment. robson mourinho let's be crystal clear , the players rule the roost at the moment. the players nowadays can get anyone sacked including Robson Mourinho bruce Solskjaer dean smith Moyes COOK etc. Our current lot are no different . Can the new broom get them playing for the badge , let's hope so. But it may take time , need to weed out the lazy overpaid ones and keep the workers / grafters. At the moment its a tough ask. Who could pull that off , the Pope obama the incredible hulk?. Until the players attitude changes , or the new manager gets in new ones, it's going to take time. On top of that you have players no better than Jonathan Douglas who clearly aren't good enough for league one let alone the championship 22 03 11 squad numbers (not mentioning names). The main thing is you HAVE TO BACK THE OWNERS AND NEW MANAGER. And if any player , is not prepared to do that , move them on ASAP. Hopefully starting NOW >

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leagueonescum added 12:46 - Dec 17 Welcome Keiran and Martyn. We're all behind you- go put this club back where it belongs!
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dyersdream added 12:46 - Dec 17 Every manager has got to start somewhere !
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Billysherlockblue added 13:28 - Dec 17 Keeping it simple. Ive been so pissed off with the players attitudes that i hope mckenna will govern and coach with a firm hand. Take no bull. Player power only lasts so long. I wish them both the best of luck and im confident theyll do well given time. There are good lads here at this club and a few not so good get rid of the wasters there is not too many and keep a strong hand over the rest. Show them early on youll take no crap. We will follow you as long as the players give 100 per cent. Lose or win. 100 per cent. Best of luck to all.

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Brazils_Hair added 13:37 - Dec 17 Sounds like a really really good move. Truth be told I am over the moon about this. I have a good feeling about it. The most positive I have felt about a new manager since George Burley left to be honest.
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blueboy1981 added 14:03 - Dec 17 Quite amazing really, but every time ITFC appoint a Manager, or sign a Player, for many it is ‘hissy fit time' without exception. And yet as a Club, we find ourselves where we are in Division 3 in ‘old money' …. !!! May I suggest a typical example of often serious over reaction, to such occasions … ??? Let's hope this latest occasion has the desired outcome.
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blue added 21:48 - Dec 17 Let's. Go Dutch, Brazilian,French Argentinian not to mention Kosovo anything but what we have now we waited years had our moment on tv a blew it . Welcome aboard wish you the very best :)
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