Boss Kieran McKenna says it’s his experience that setbacks make you stronger and that everyone at the club will use this season’s all-but-certain relegation from the Premier League as fortification to keep moving forward.

The Blues’ return to the Championship after one season looks set to be confirmed at St James’ Park, Newcastle on Saturday afternoon.

Speaking at Friday’s press conference ahead of Arsenal’s visit, McKenna was asked whether he will be a better manager for this season’s experience.

“I think so, I’d like to think so,” he reflected. “I think if any of us - staff members, manager, players - if you don’t come out of this season wiser, stronger, better, then you’ve probably not tackled the challenge in the right way.

“I think I am and I certainly will be and I think that’s been the case right the way through my career.

“When you do well at something, people always think that it’s been a straight linear progression but my experience, whether that’s as a player or as a coach, it’s the setbacks which have generally made you stronger, have made me stronger.

“It’s the bumps in the road that sort of fortify you to keep moving forward and I think that’s what everyone at the football club plans to use this bump in the road as.”

Quizzed on how he deals with those bumps in the road, he added: “There’s lots of different ways. I think the biggest way is to stick to your values, how you want to behave, how you want to conduct yourself day to day, how you want to relate to your staff, how you want to relate to your players, how you want to represent the football club in the right way.

“These things are in a lot of ways a lot easier to do when you’re winning all the time and not so easy to do when you’re not winning.

“For me, it’s trying to stick true to the values of how I want to be as a person, first and foremost, and if you do that, then I think you represent yourself and the group and the club in a much better way. That’s been the challenge and that’s how we’ve tried to tackle it.”

The Blues have won only four of their 33 games this season but McKenna says he doesn’t need the validation that victories bring, even if they make his job easier and maintain a positive mood in the camp.

“Not massively,” he reflected. “Probably not as much as players need it, or certainly new players need it, and certainly not as much as the external perception is.

“I think I’ve always trusted my own gut on whether I believe I’m working well, whether the staff’s working well, whether we’re working to our maximum, whether we’re helping the players to the best of our ability and working to our values and working to our qualities.

“And if we do that, I’ve always been pretty good at knowing that the result of a football match can be determined by a lot of things outside of your control.

“It doesn’t change loads for me. Of course, you feel a lot better and it helps the mood but in terms of validation, no.

“Of course, it’s a professional industry and you need to pick up results, but I’ve also believed that you need to have some other gauges for how you believe you’re working and I believe that the staff, myself and the players have done a lot of good work this year and work that will hopefully stand us in good stead.”

McKenna has now been in his role at Town for almost three and a half years having taken charge in December 2021. How does he compare the manager that gave his first team-talk ahead of the 1-0 victory over Wycombe in his inaugural game in charge and the boss he is now?

“I’d like to think mostly the same,” he said. “It was my first day as a manager but it wasn’t my first day on the school run. I was the best part of a decade and a half into my coaching journey at that point, so I think most things were pretty well established in terms of how I wanted to train, be with players, how I wanted my team to play.

“There’s no doubt that you’re stronger for the rounding of the experiences. Taking over a team where they were in the middle of League One and then in the last three seasons we’ve had a season where on a personal level you’re in charge of a really big club in the division with a good budget for the division and a great fanbase, and that brings its own challenges. Of course, that was successful.

“Then last season we were in charge of a big club but really bottom-half, bottom-third budget and low expectations but we managed to do something incredible, something of that ilk hasn’t been done very, very often.

“And then this year you’re in charge of the team that has the smallest wage budget by far, hasn’t been in the Premier League for 22 years, but still has a great history and tradition and pride in the football club, and we tried to attack the division as well as we can.

“And that’s a completely different challenge to two seasons ago in League One in terms of the way that you can play, certain things you can ask of players and the level of the opponent relative to the strengths of your team has flipped completely in the last couple of years.

“That’s been a great challenge for me on a personal level and we’ve tried to do the right things and do it in the right way along the way.

“But I think compared to day one, I’d like to think I’m still the same person, same values but I’ve had an incredible range of experiences and everyone at the football club has been through the same.”

This weekend Burnley confirmed their return to the Premier League after one season in the Championship along with Leeds, who had been away for two seasons, and Town are already being talked about in terms of a promotion campaign in 2025/26.

“It’s a bit early, I have to say!” McKenna smiled. “I understand it, but we’re thinking about Arsenal. There aren’t too many other thoughts past that.

“Of course, planning for next season has already started, whether we’re 12th in the league or 18th in the league you need to plan ahead. Those conversations at this time of the season, they happen.

“The narrative around newly promoted teams, newly relegated teams, and the evidence is there, but we’ll deal with that challenge as and when it comes.

“We know in football nothing’s guaranteed and nothing’s given but we’ll see what the next challenge is, but in the bigger picture, whatever the next challenge is for the football club, we’ll try and tackle it with a lot of humility and with the right values.”

TWTD

blueboy1981 added 14:47 - Apr 22 We’ll see ! - next season.
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Rimsy added 15:20 - Apr 22 Wow! We're gonna be some team next season if setbacks make you stronger.
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GatesPerm added 15:25 - Apr 22 Mariner1974 - That is by a significant distance the best, most well thought through and articulated post that I have read on here in many a long year.
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Suffolkboy added 15:52 - Apr 22 Mariner !! What a great piece of all round analysis ! I feel certain there’s many of the True Blues who will thoroughly understand what and how we’ve tried to tackle this season .Most will remain proud of ITFC ,everything we’ve stood for, all the team and personal efforts which have given Town much to remember ,and much to hope for ! KMcK has led admirably from the front , and commendably has never publicly sacrificed any player — though he undoubtedly has a great understanding for the game and what makes people tick !Behind closed doors , at Playford Rd ,on the training pitches and in private session there can be no doubt his enthusiasm and passion will have come to the fore ! Well tried all at P Rd ! Thanks for the tremendous efforts ! COYB

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flykickingbybgunn added 16:16 - Apr 22 Well done Mariner. A good effort. I'm looking forward to next year.
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Bert added 16:41 - Apr 22 As always, KMcK looks at the bigger picture as do our owners and investors. He keeps level headed and polite in his analysis. He is still young with a lot to learn but he keeps his emotions in check. That does not mean that he doesn’t care about results. Of course he does but everything he says and does is underpinned by personal values seldom seen in football. Thank goodness we have remained a club that values its community and supporters. Relegation is hard to take but most supporters are savvy enough to understand that unlike many clubs that are relegated we remain in good shape and heart to climb the ladder once more, wiser and better prepared this time.

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poet added 16:50 - Apr 22 Mariner 1974 I totally agree with your well put together post, I just hope that those suffering from a severe case of myopia who frequently post ton here, read it and digest it.
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trevski_s added 17:07 - Apr 22 @mariner that piece was a fantastic read and I love to read a nice lengthy piece from someone that seems to have a similar mindset to myself. Overall I have been proud of what McKenna, some of the new signings and the "league 1" players have achieved this year. Its not been the year we were hoping for but up or down we support all the boys in blue and look forward to bringing it to the Championship next season. Long may they stay and take another crack at it in a couple of years time

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:59 - Apr 22 @mariner. That was worth reading, thank you. Your optimism seems grounded, your reflections sensible, your tone considered. The Club is on a good trajectory, viewed from 10 years hence this will seem a necessary blip. To some of us 2015 does not seem long ago.
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ImAbeliever added 18:13 - Apr 22 That’s a tremendous post Mariner1974.
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virginblue added 18:14 - Apr 22 Nice to read a lengthy well reasoned post Mariner. Hard to disagree with anything you’ve said.
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Leejames99 added 18:22 - Apr 22 @mariner74 Congrats got yourself a fan club there. Well written and some well thought out points, and we can agree to disagree. I think every club in the country knows Mckenna playing style and that he won't change it by his actions so far. Godfrey only played 45 mins vs Spurs and came off at halftime because he got a yellow, he wasn't to blame for Spurs goals Son beat him and O'Shea, the first 2 goals were Davis not marking Johnson, nearly every goal conceeded since Christmas has been the same. Nobody knows what happened to Godffery, I have a feeling it was nothing to do with football why we didn't see him, but he is just another new signing taking the blame off Davis and Mckenna. Morsy I just can't justify him being in the Premier League, good captain, served us well, for me is definately not integral and needs replaced unless he is retiring at the end of next season. I dont know what game you watch but he just jogs around pointing, he made 2 good passes on Sunday, I'm not knocking him but at 33 you can't expect hin to be any good in Prem, I think Mckenna should of got another midfielder in Jan and not pinned all on Downes coming but to late now, for me midfield is the major part of the squad that needs changing completely if we can't get Cajuste, then 3 mids in. Burns I definately agree. I do t agree Hirst can be relied upon as a main striker. I also agree that Chaplin, Szmodicks or Broadhead should of been in the 10 and Omari on right and Clarke on left but the whole team were played all over to accomodate Davis. If Mckenna is so good why didn't he change things up? I dont know if you watch the Overlap but this new style of football that Mckenna and Martin and Rob Edwatds are all wanting to play now only works with elite defenders it was Pep doing something new, it just puts uneeded pressure on keepers and defenders, passing back and sideways. The only 2 town defenders currently who can pick out a good pass from back is Burgess and Townsend, maybe O'Shea I think. I think the proof will be in the pudding now with Mckenna, he has used all the excuses up, he has a free pass, an amazing big contract, open chequebook for players, got the players he wanted for his plan, he has all the tools and talent he needs that with some new signings could emulate Robson etc but this season we will see what he can do. I'd like to see a consistent starting 11 for a start. I think his substitutions are questionable but that's why we need to evolve the squad. Well written post, don't mind the dig, it's better than the empty heads who just get abusive , use foul language and Insults. Nothing wrong thinking Mckenna and the lads from league 1 are irreplaceable but the fact is they are and if we don't evolve and bring in the quality of player needed for Prem it's never going to happen. Good read though, total respect

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jon_talbot56 added 18:30 - Apr 22 It’s good to read some more reasoned thinking here after the hotheads booing Saka etc. I hope they remember to cheer him on for England. I have been watching Town since 68 but not lived in Ipswich since 76. I am moving back this summer and all l want in life is a season ticket. I think we will be a lot stronger than our last Championship campaign.
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Leejames99 added 18:32 - Apr 22 @poet and a few others you are getting on my nerves now, with your references to health conditions and mental health, for people having a different opinion to you, had that Robsonwark wally being homophobic, the virgin fella gobbing off with insults. If we all agreed then there be no point of a forum. Any comment or player you don't like you just lynch mob. Every single pundit in the country is slating Mckenna and especially his tactics with Davis. Are they all See You On Tuesday and suffering with mental health, and trolls and sad and lonely, because they question some ability of some players and stick up for players getting blamed etc. Some of you should be ashamed, and now we are booing England internationals and applaudingbad tackles and giving the culprit a guard of honour as he walks off.

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bluebullet29l added 19:22 - Apr 22 Blah blah blah blah blah......
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Leejames99 added 19:29 - Apr 22 Ah there he is Ipswichbusiness wonder where you were hiding silently downmarket awaiting to join in with your gutless insults, this is a forum to talk about IpswichTown not facebook, same old nonsense. Ipswich business it's much better when you mind your own business, if you got nothing football related to say get back to your own business. Jeez
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Linkboy13 added 20:52 - Apr 22 Yes have to agree with everything Mariner 1974 said probably the post of the season.
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Bert added 21:51 - Apr 22 Two great posts on here that basically say there is more that we all agree on than divides us. Let’s all try and keep things civil and polite whatever our opinions.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:46 - Apr 23 I believe the club did the correct thing with the recruitment policy before and during the season. I said before the start of it that I'd consider finishing 17th to be a triumph also. There will be no triumph, but I believe sincerely, as a club, we have much to look forward to. Clearly the squad was built with one eye on at least the possibility of a return to the championship next season. The alternative was to buy 3/4 players with Premier League experience, (if they even wanted to come to the club, and if we could afford the wages if they did! ) with no guarantees that we would have stayed up, and undoubtedly left ourselves in a right mess if we didn't. I'm not a happy clapper, or satisfied with " failure ", but a realist. We live in a real world of financial limits, not a fantasy one. I look forward to us going again in the Championship next season. With the players we retain, and parachute payments and also any money the owners put up for recruitments again, we should be in a very strong position indeed. I don't take anything for granted, anything acheived will undoubtedly be hard earned, as it always is in the Championship. I do leave with one caveat however. For me, promotion back to the Premier League by the end of next season, isn't just an option or expected, it's a must, otherwise everything we've built over the past 3 years or so, takes a huge step backwards.

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jayceee added 07:37 - Apr 23 The EPL was a lot harder for us than I thought - I had confidence we'd probably survive, especially with McKenna staying and the amount of decent signings he made. What I didn't realise would be so hard - is seeing our beloved team losing so much, so easily and so emphatically at times. That was a lot harder than I imagined to take. We were almost good enough - those goddam 'fine margins' were real, but we know now how much better we need to be when/if we bounce back.

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delias_cheesy_flaps added 09:38 - Apr 23 Albert Einstein: "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results." Lets see what changes next season......
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planetblue_2011 added 09:56 - Apr 23 If all the set backs make you stronger then please can we beat the scum next season. They have had the bragging rights for far too long. We need to get bragging rights back to Suffolk and show everyone we are ultimately the best team in east anglia. Not saying we are not now but beating scum will prove it even more. I’d love to win promotion again but firstly do what we need to again them budgies. COYB’s

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:00 - Apr 23 Agree that an important step next season is beating the Budgies. With their new manager (as yet to be installed) it could go two ways for them. They've really fallen away in the second half of the season after being play-off contenders for quite a while, and this might continue. Or, they might profit from the "new manager bounce" and come back strongly. Let's hope for the former, but NUFC are generally a side to be reckoned with in the Championship, so we need to be on our guard.

1

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 10:02 - Apr 23 *NCFC Whoops! With apologies to Newcastle!
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BobbyBell added 10:02 - Apr 23 I just wonder where all these moaning fans think the money is coming from to buy proven Premier league players? The fact is that PROVEN Prem players cost £60 million or more each. We spent £100 million on players to try and survive without risking financial problems. Had we have survived then we would be spending more to improve the squad step by step, The hard cold truth is that the Prem is such a high standard now that you need regular Prem income to establish yourselves. The worst performing club of the Prem regulars are 15 points clear of the three promoted teams and have lost just 15 of their 33 games. So the worst of the Prem are far too good for the best of the Championship, and that happened last year too. The question arising is "Can Championship clubs build to a high enough level to survive in the mega rich Premier league anymore, or is the Premier League becoming a closed shop for the wealthy elite?" FFP was designed to prevent financial dominance but just how much would a promoted club need to spend to survive? Would even £250 million do it these days?

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