McKenna: An Incredible Journey
Wednesday, 10th Jun 2026 22:51

Departing Blues boss Kieran McKenna has issued an emotional goodbye message to supporters having announced he is leaving the club earlier this evening.

McKenna, 40, has decided to end his four-and-a-half-year stay at Portman Road in order to take time away from football having secured the third promotion with the Blues and second to the Premier League.

Speaking to TownTV, McKenna reflected on his remarkable spell at the club, occasionally holding back tears, and thanking supporters, players and staff.

We understand Town are aiming to bring in their new manager sooner rather than later, certainly within a fortnight, perhaps even earlier.

Bookies have started to compile odds on the Northern Irishman's successor with one making Strasbourg boss Gary O’Neil the strong early favourite at 2/1 on.

The ex-Wolves and Bournemouth manager and one-time Norwich City midfielder’s name was circulating as a potential target yesterday when McKenna was tipped to join Fulham.

Former Blues loanee and ex-Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior is at 4/1, Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg at 8/1 and Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, who McKenna worked under at Manchester United, 12/1.

After that, a host of potential candidates are at 20/1 including Scott Parker, Steve Cooper, Robbie Keane, Steven Gerrard and Thomas Frank, who recently said he, like McKenna, is taking time out of the game.

Rob Edwards, sacked by Wolves overnight, could also come into the reckoning having been one of those Town were eyeing as a potential replacement had McKenna moved on in the summer of 2024.

Photo: IMAGO/Every Second Media via Reuters Connect

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Simonds92 added 22:56 - Jun 10 If it's any of the names on that list, we may as well not bother next season. O'Neil should be nowhere near it. He's a Temu Scott Parker.
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youngie7 added 22:58 - Jun 10 Watched the video and choked up, he genuinely seems very emotional and upset, maybe there is something we don’t know with his family or even himself, I just hope he doesn’t go to Fulham in a month - a very sad day for the club, need Thomas Frank in, similar club to Brentford and he would be superb imo
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BlueMoon added 22:59 - Jun 10 Wish him and his family well. Genuine man who always conducted himself with dignity and class. He clearly feels a lot for the club. Sad news to hear for all Town fans.
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Saxonblue74 added 23:04 - Jun 10 That's a very uninspiring list of "potential candidates". Making bad news worse.
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ScottCandage added 23:06 - Jun 10 I can't bring myself to watch this.
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bluetoba added 23:09 - Jun 10 Two of the last comments (downvoted) have came to fruition then. Pretty obvious really when other potential parties curiousity were never dismissed. At least the owners recouped 8 million quid compensation and will put it to hopefully fine use. I’m now gonna make a bet that Town finish higher than Fulham next season.
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darkhorse28 added 23:21 - Jun 10

Nobody gave more. A modern day club hero, worked his backside off.

His clenched fist, on the end of Ashtons chin, a poetic end.

Ashton can’t provide the platform, the vision, the strategy, and most importantly the talent ID to survive and thrive at this level…, McKenna doesn’t want Ashton to be his ceiling, and he’s sadly right to go…, I don’t want him to be our clubs ceiling.

I wish the owners would show courage. Real courage. Ashton is good in the EFL, and that’s where we’ll reside as long as he’s the only football voice in the room.

Would love a Frank or real football heavyweight, but there’s no way we’re getting anying but a young, less experienced coach that Ashton can control…, that’s the MO.

We needed a change. This wasn’t it. Good luck KM, never like the way these things happen in the modern game, but earned the right to do it in his terms.

I have SO little faith in Ashton doing anything other than what suits his need for control.

Still. I’ve been wrong before and will be again.

darkhorse28 added 23:28 - Jun 10

Bank on Frank for Europe.

We’re such an easy project to sell to him, a community club, very similar to Brentford, a hub of the community and a one club town, a place where you can put down roots, where there’s patience, status, and resources.

Can’t imagine he’d work with Ashton though and a WBA panini sticker book from 2001 Mark still exclusively uses for recruitment.

Ah well - a young coach to do as he’s told it is then. Or Mark taking training in his WBA tracksuit probably isn’t entirely off the table.

What price is Mark Ashton? .., Mark interviewing Mark. That’s the dream right there.

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dazza added 23:29 - Jun 10 Thanks for everything KM - you did an amazing job and it brought back so many memories of the burley era. Personally I would say the best fit for our style of play would be Thomas Frank or Brendan Rodgers (although no chance on the latter). Let’s see what happens - I like Ashton and I am sure he will make a good call on this - despite what others are saying.
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Godders999 added 23:32 - Jun 10 Ipswich need to go and get BRENDAN ROGERS!!
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emergencylime added 23:37 - Jun 10 Heartfelt thanks for your pivotal role in bringing our club back to life, and use the time off wisely! Similar to above comments, now is a good time to separate the CEO and Chairman/Chairperson roles back out to 2 different people.
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Bert added 00:04 - Jun 11 Sincere, humble and a man of immense integrity. Not many like him in football. He has nurtured our club, grown it and put his life and soul into making our club great again. A true professional and strength of maturity to know when a break is needed. He owes us nothing but we owe him our gratitude. Another chapter unfolds.
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runningout added 00:04 - Jun 11 I will take a break from football myself if we hire Rosenior :-)
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Gforce added 00:31 - Jun 11 According to Bet365.....Frank is odds on favourite,Rosenior 2nd favourite and Gerrard 3rd favourite. Thankyou and best wishes Keiran, you well and truly deserve the break.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:36 - Jun 11

Well, the era was always going to end at some point. It's probably come a bit sooner than a lot of us imagined, but it's here. One thing I'd just like to say. Over the past season, like a few of us, I queried some of the team selections, style of play etc. However, there's one thing I never queried for a second, the man himself, a " proper " human being. So I say again, thank you Kieran for the last few years, and the best of luck with whatever you decide to do in the future. I'm sure many here will be keeping an eye on it.

On the note about a replacement, there's only one name above I'd be really interested in, and it's not TF. Just as we gave a chance to someone who hadn't even managed a football club till he came here a few years back, I'd like to see another young, highly promising manager given the chance. Of course it's a much more difficult job to manage at PL level, but this 38yo has managerial experience and I very much like what I've seen. Step forward Kim Hellberg. My gut feeling is it won't be him however. There are a few names above I'd be disappointed in, but whoever it is will get my support, for the obvious reason, I want to see the club prosper, and if he's successful, than the club will be. Interesting times indeed!

arablue added 04:08 - Jun 11

Thank you Kieran for your immense contribution. A modern day Club legend.

Decades from now, when Ipswich supporters debate the greatest managers in the club's history, McKenna's name will be mentioned in the same conversation as Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson. Not because he matched their trophies but because he transformed what people believed Ipswich Town could be.

All the best for you and your family.

Pirateplank added 04:40 - Jun 11 Ashton too much of a liability. Combine all of his events and he is not someone you would want to hamstring your options again or be associated with heading into another premiership season. The club made a mistake not getting rid of him close season and now we have lost the manager.
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victorysquad added 06:07 - Jun 11 I hope he keeps open the possibility of a return in future, once he has done what he needs to do. Feels like an unfinished project.
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Cakeman added 06:19 - Jun 11 Thank you Kieran for the amazing effort you and your team have put in over the years. The club is in a far better place than it was when you first arrived. I wish you all the very best wherever your next steps take you as long as it’s not at Carrow Road. Seriously though thank you and I hope you and your family can enjoy a well earned rest.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:28 - Jun 11

We all have our likes and dislikes about a replacement, mostly based on subjectivity rather than any real insight. My obvious candidate is Thomas Frank, but unless he can be persuaded to change his mind, it doesn't look as if he's available. I think Ole Gunnar Soljskaer did ok when a replacement at Man U for a short time, and he will have a feel for the big stage; seems a nice kind of guy into the bargain. Unfortunately, the chances of unearthing a new young talent from abroad, which would be a dream, are probably near to non-existent. But we must be positive in adversity, and I'll support whoever gets the job. Let's just get it done sooner rather than later.

johnwarksshorts added 06:40 - Jun 11 Sad day for the club. Thanks for all the memories McK. Whoever takes over has big shoes to fill.
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Rootshall91 added 06:51 - Jun 11

Thank you for all your hard work and devotion to the club Kieran.

There are quite a lot of negative comments about Ashton on here.

Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t beyond reproach, but I think he has probably got more right than wrong during his tenure so far.

For those calling for Ashton to go - I agree that he has made mistakes (who hasn’t, although most of us haven’t got cozy with Farage) but losing him as well as Kieran at this point would leave a huge hole to fill on the eve of our return to the PL.

I trust that the owners are savvy enough to understand the dynamics of their club.

If we fail badly again in the PL next season it will probably cost Ashton his job.

We are in a much better place than we were 5 years ago. This is thanks to the owners, Kieran and Ashton. Ashton now has to prove he hasn’t hit his ceiling…

bluewarrior added 06:55 - Jun 11

I wonder if there’s a space for Morsy to come back into the club. Not as manager obviously but in a senior role - would bring some feel good back that’s for sure and no doubting he loves the club. I take some solace in the fact that the back room staff remain intact. As much as we all (nearly all) love KM he didn’t achieve what he achieved alone. Watch out for someone coming through from that group OR a left field appointment just like KM was at the time. PS to the Ashton critics I suggest remembering that it was him who found and appointed and supported KM and you can see and hear from KM himself how close they were. Yes MA made a horlicks of the Farage situation but in the wider span of things he’s so far in credit so as to make that entirely forgivable and you can be certain that he’s learned a valuable lesson from that experience. The future remains really bright under this ownership and management.

number8 added 06:56 - Jun 11 My conspiracy theory is - the compensation covers us for a year. Martin O’ Neil has just taken on a year contract. Celtic clearly want him and didn't want to pay 8 million. Will he wash up there next year???? Anyway, whatever the reason, thank you for all the good times with my club i have had in the last 5 years!!!
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RetroBlue added 07:10 - Jun 11 The VERY best of luck Kieran. Have a nice break, and maybe, just maybe one day you'll be back. Never say never.... You're replace? How about your friend, OGS?
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