Manager Kieran McKenna takes charge of his 10th game as Blues boss when Burton visit on Saturday and says he’s enjoyed all aspects of the job so far and is settling into living in the area.

McKenna, 35, has made a positive start to his time in management with the Blues having won six, drawn one and lost two of his first nine matches to move to within five points of the play-offs.

Asked how he believes things have gone so far, he reflected: “I’ve enjoyed all the aspects of the job in general over the two months or whatever it is now.

“I’ve enjoyed the job, I’ve certainly enjoyed the feeling of being at such a big club and very proud to be part of it all. I’ve enjoyed the journey and the direction that we’re trying to take the team and are trying to take the club, and it’s an exciting thing to be part of.

“In terms of the nine games, we’ve had some very good performances and some not-so-good performances but I think in general we feel like we’re moving in a good direction.

“But we certainly can’t rest on that. There are lots of things to improve in terms of our performances, individually and as a team and we’re still a long, long way off in terms of points and position from where the club would have wanted to be at the start of the season.

“It’s not time to look back or think about the games that have gone, the 10 games which have passed, it’s about the next game and the next batch of games and making sure that we continue to improve and hopefully we continue to pick up positive results.”

Has anything surprised him? “I don’t think so, there certainly haven’t been any nasty surprises. I’ve said before, I was pleasantly surprised by the openness and the real humility and growth-mindset of the group of players that I’ve inherited, not having known too many of the before.

“I’ve been really pleasantly surprised by how willing and how hungry they are to work and to improve and to be coached and to be part of the team and part of the squad. That’s probably been the most pleasant surprise.

“I think the other bits of the job have been things that I’ve been exposed to before. The league is obviously a little bit different, so that’s been one of the positive challenges really, learning a lot about different teams and different players that I wasn’t as familiar with.

“I’ve enjoyed that process as well, I feel that I’m getting a better understanding of the division and of the challenges that different teams can bring.

“I’ve enjoyed that challenge. I think that will be beneficial in the next period of time, the more familiar myself and my staff become with the league and the division that we’re in.

“But in general, no nasty surprises, only positive surprises and I’ve certainly enjoyed it so far.”

Regarding settling into life in Suffolk, the Northern Irishman added: “Really good. It’s a lovely area of the world. I’ve enjoyed getting into town at times to get around the centre and do bits in there, but also to get out into the countryside as well and there is some beautiful countryside around Suffolk to see.

“It feels to me like there’s a nice laidback nature around the county, certainly coming from my previous experiences of London and even in Manchester as well.

“I’m really enjoying the atmosphere around the town and around the county and really settling in well here on an individual level and looking forward to settling in fully with my family towards the end of the season and the summer. Hopefully, we will be in this area for a long period of time to come.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Europablue added 16:22 - Feb 18 It's funny how with PC, we were talking about judging him after 10 games, but with KM that hasn't crossed anyone's mind.
5

Bazza8564 added 16:24 - Feb 18 Total quality, absolutely the right man for the club and an absolutely brilliant signing by Mark Ashton. I really dont know how anybody could be surprised though, all the talk of Warnock and Harris was never going to be good enough for MA. Make no mistake, Ashton operates at another level from any other executive we've ever seen at ITFC and having turned 50 last year, this should be his major, and probably last, opportunity to leave a mark on the game. Just as KM will be ambitious, I truly believe at 35 he knows he has 3 decades in the game if he chooses to and as a result, he will be able to invest significant years in his first managerial role. Thankfully my fellow fans seem to have grasped a really strong appreciation for both these guys and I hope we continue to treat them in a way that keeps them here. That can only be good......

17

BotesdaleBlue added 16:27 - Feb 18 I feel so positive about KMc, everything he says and the way he says it. I just can't believe in less than a year, we have changed owners, the overall senior management team and first team manager and seemly hit the jackpot every time. I may well be getting ahead of myself but I am finding it very hard to contain my enthusiasm with what is going on at our beloved club, on so many fronts, after 20 years of demise.

10

Suffolkboy added 16:40 - Feb 18 Find somewhere good to put down roots ,and where the family can enjoy and prosper ,and I doubt you'll ever regret coming to manage ITFC . Suffolk IS a deceptively lovely county ,with smashing countryside and villages near equally interesting towns and shores : much to explore ,many places and people to get to know AND we hope you will ! Very best wishes for a personal and professionally successful ,happy time Managing in Ipswich ! COYB

8

Europablue added 17:05 - Feb 18 Suffolkboy I don't agree with "deceptively", but Suffolk and Essex (especially North Essex) are both lovely counties. Funnily enough, Ipswich is probably the roughest part of Suffolk, although some parts of it are lovely.
0

Wooly74 added 18:23 - Feb 18 I wish I could share in the happy clappy crowd above, but only time will tell if this direction we have taken is the right one or not. Having supported the club for over 40 years and seen the continuous decline over half of that period, I'm afraid that I am going to take much more convincing from a young untested manager who has got off to a positive start, but remember this is the third tier of football and the lowest place we have been for a very, very long time, so eventually there was only one direction we could go! I do however respect and appreciate his honesty, yes 6 wins from 9 is good, but with the exception of MK Dons (0-0) and Wycombe (1-0) (very early in his time), we haven't really impressed against major sides. Two of those six wins were against an awful Gillingham side, one against Doncaster who were bottom and already beaten (6-0) at home whilst under Cook. The Stanley win was positive yes, but the other win was AFC Wimbledon (note then four of the six wins to date against three of the bottom 5 sides in this awful league). Lost to both Sheffield Wednesday and Bolton away and really struggled at home to beat Gillingham 1-0 last time out. His credentials will only really be known when we face the likes of Rotherham away, Wigan at home, Portsmouth at home, Oxford away, these are the games which will really see if he has the tactical acuteness to not only win them, but win them in a fashion that will get us off our seats and truly believing in the direction we are going. Whilst no doubt I will get marked down for this post, trust me when I say that I've watched a lot of football over the years and played myself at a high standard. It's far too early to get carried away and treat him as the messiah. He will however, (like all previous ITFC managers) get my full support, even when it doesn't go so well for him, I only hope this time around that all of my fellow north stand fans do the same and keep the faith. Listening to some of them behind me at Gillingham, I'm sadly not so sure! Come on you blues, two wins from the next two home games and I might start clapping in tune with the rest of the fans above 💪🤔

0

RobsonWark added 19:06 - Feb 18 I really hope you are in this area for a long period of time to come Kieran!
2

RobsonWark added 19:12 - Feb 18 Wooly74 you can't expect miracles over night! We have been in decline season by season for 20 years and now Kieran has come in and we are enjoying attractive football and getting results. Give the guy a chance. If we don't get promoted this year he will get us promoted as Champions next season.
5

Wooly74 added 10:41 - Feb 19 RobsonWark, that's exactly my point, I'm not expecting miracles, but I'm equally not getting carried away with the six wins, four of which have been bottom four sides!
1

Michael101 added 10:42 - Feb 19 McKenna has been a breath of fresh air since taken over at a club that was stagnant.my only worry is if he makes a good fist of things a lower perm higher championship club will come knocking at our .door
0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls