Ashton: I Knew Within 30 Seconds McKenna Was the Man For Town
Friday, 1st Apr 2022 12:37

Blues CEO Mark Ashton has revealed the process behind the recruitment of manager Kieran McKenna with 450 names on what was initially a very long list of potential candidates.

McKenna was appointed on December 16th, former boss Paul Cook having been sacked 12 days previously.

Since then the former Manchester United assistant first-team coach has made a hugely impressive start to his managerial career, seeing the Blues to 10 wins from his first 17 matches.

Speaking in a podcast with TWTD and Blue Monday, which can be watched in full below, Ashton was asked about Cook’s departure and the search for his replacement.

“I’ve got nothing negative or bad to say about Paul Cook,” Ashton said. “Paul was really committed, he worked really hard but it just felt when we debated this with the board and about the direction that the club wanted to go for the medium to long term, added to the run of results that we’d had, that it was the time to change and go in a different direction.

“We then looked at who and what we needed and you’ve got to remember I’m nine months into this here. Part of this has been an education process for me so, once we’d made the decision to change Paul, I made sure that I spent time with what I call Ipswich people.

“I spent time with the likes of Matty Holland, Simon Milton etc, all of whom were absolutely fantastic in just educating me on the football club, the history of the football club, the way people should conduct themselves at this football club, what this football club meant, and that helped.

“We ran a process and I know this sounds crazy, but we ran a process with 450 previous, current and potential future managers. We ran a whole data process and off the back of that I interviewed seven or eight people.

“We talked to the guys in the US and I think it was Ed Schwarz who said to me, ‘You just don’t look happy. Something’s not sitting right with you’. And I said, ‘I’m not feeling it, I’m just not feeling it’.

“Where Ed was brilliant, Ed said to me, ‘What I want you to do is step back, go and look at what you’ve done historically well in your career and what’s worked for you’.

“And when I did that my nervousness was, I’ll be honest with you, could a young manager first time out of the blocks handle 29,000 fans against Sunderland? Handle a club with the history and the tradition of Ramsey, Robson, the Premier League? Sometimes that’s easier to do at a smaller club, to cut your teeth.

“This is a big, big club with a big weight of tradition, history and expectation. When I looked at that list, and that was a very, very short list of people that I’d been tracking, it was a list I had been tracking that group for maybe two or three years.

“Kieran was someone that I’d really kept a close eye on and with my links with [assistant manager] Martyn Pert [from Watford] I’d always been meeting Martyn and asking questions about him.

“We approached him and when I met Kieran I knew within 30 seconds, honestly. Within 30 seconds I knew. It was very late on one Sunday evening when we met and within 30 seconds I knew.

“I’ve had that feeling maybe once or twice in my career when you just know. I think it’s been well documented, [executive vice-chairman] Ed Woodward and Manchester United were really first class in their approach, they didn’t want to lose him but also didn’t want to stand in his way.

“And I think this is one of the few football clubs that they would have supported him coming to because Kieran had to explain to [Manager Ralf] Rangnick what Ipswich is and why Ipswich. This isn’t a normal-sized football club, this is a real opportunity.

“And then I remember getting back in the car and, it must have been after midnight by now, calling Mick O’Leary and saying to Mike ‘I’m delighted, I think I’ve got him, I know exactly who is the right person, but can we get him is the next question’. And the rest is history.

“He’s been an absolute delight to work with, I love his professionalism, his communication is outstanding. Like all of us, we all have areas to develop and learn in but so far, so good.”

Photo: Matchday Images

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Bazza8564 added 13:06 - Apr 1 And that exactly why this football club is in such good hands!
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itsonlyme added 13:06 - Apr 1 Cracking!!!!!
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itsonlyme added 13:06 - Apr 1 Cracking!!!!!
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Mariner1974 added 13:09 - Apr 1

I do love how Ashton doesn't mess around or mince his words. Man Utd should sack Ralf Ragnick right away though. Who's this guy who's supposed to have this superior knowledge of football, but had didn't have the respect for the history of the great ITFC! Guess we haven't had as many Germans as Flying Dutchmen and Great Danes. "I've got nothing negative or bad to say about Paul Cook". Haven't got anything postive or good to say about him either!

Cakeman added 13:10 - Apr 1

Gut feelings are often the best with decision making and I am pleased Town are going down the route of a fresh young manager. Mark Ashton was obviously pleased by Kieran's appointment and certainly worked hard to make it happen.
I must confess I was unsure this was the route to go but in such a short time Kieran has convinced me that he is the man to take us forward. What I like most is how he controls his emotions, thinks methodically and presents himself very well. Long May this continue.

Monkey_Blue added 13:34 - Apr 1 Everything I hear on this subject shows they saw Cook as an analogue manager in a digital world.
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Suffolkboy added 13:38 - Apr 1

Lots of what Cakeman has to say is bang on target : but it's no surprise Ashton was quickly convinced ! Bear in mind all the detailed research in advance, the analysis and isolation of those suitable for interview from a huge list ,and it's a clear demonstration of the passion and enthusiasm our senior Management group bring to ITFC and the brightening future .
Gold dust has been sprinkled on all ITFC ,we should set aside the disbelief and celebrate with conviction !
COYB

midastouch added 14:51 - Apr 1

We were well overdue a good one after some of the crap we had under Evans. Hurst was the worst! Took me 30 seconds to know Hurst wasn't the man for Town! And Deputy Doig was an equally hopefully partner in ITFCrime! Thank God those dark days seem to be long behind us! Can't cry over spilt milk but man some of that milk was so badly off it made me want to puke! Anyway, firmly looking forwards and not backwards these days as plenty of reasons to be cheerful going forwards it seems! :-)

midastouch added 14:52 - Apr 1 * hopeless (Deputy Doig S**t)
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blues1 added 15:47 - Apr 1

Midastouch. Hurst wasn't the worst by any means. What the issue with him was, was he took a massive gamble on who he signed that summer. And it didn't pay off. Had he signed, say 4 lower lge players and 4 or 5 experienced championship players things would likely have gone very differently for him. Hindsight is a wonderful thing though. Sure he regretted his approach to transfers after he left.

Billericay12 added 16:09 - Apr 1 From what I have seen so far Mark Ashton comes across as a clued up astute businessman who will take people to task if he is not happy with something. He also continually talks about the long term, the bigger picture and the potential of ITFC. There is so much positivity around the club at present and we need to maintain that even if we don't make the playoffs.
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Daniel72 added 22:04 - Apr 1 I really like the intuitive acumen of this guy.. he knows his stuff and acts on what he knows.. also he has taken the trouble to know... research... knowledge plus intuition .. make for decisions led by experience.. I am thankful Town finally seem to be in the hands of decent humans again.
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