Mark Ashton says he got a feeling from the his very first meeting with Kieran McKenna that he'd found a man who could 'bear the weight' of being Ipswich Town manager.
Career coach McKenna left his role as Manchester United assistant manager to replace Paul Cook in the Portman Road dugout in December 2021, taking on his first ever senior management role.
Since then he's taken the Blues from being a mid-table League One club to a table-topping Championship outfit that's just three games away from the Premier League thanks to a remarkable league record of P112 W65 D33 L14.
After the 37-year-old was unsurprisingly named Championship Manager of the Year, chief executive Mark Ashton told the EADT and Ipswich Star: “I said to Kieran tonight that it seems a long time ago that he and I met and we first talked about him joining this football club. He has just been incredible from day one. I’m so proud of him.
“Dedicating the award to all his staff and family is typical Kieran, but ultimately he’s the leader of that football department, he’s the one that sets the tempo, he’s the one that sets the standards, he’s the one who drives it forwards, he’s the one who’s in first and leaves last every single day.
“Whatever happens at the end of the season, this is a great accolade for him and the football club. I’m absolutely delighted for him."
Asked what his initial impression of McKenna had been in that aforementioned first interview, which came days before an embarrassing FA Cup exit at League Two club Barrow, Ashton said: "My instinct was really strong on his values. I’d done my homework on the football side of him – the technical, tactical piece – so there was literally no discussion on that because his pedigree was there for us to see very clearly.
"All I wanted to see was Kieran McKenna the man. What are his values? What is his work ethic? How did he communicate? Could he lead? Could he bear the weight of Ipswich Town Football Club? Two former England managers, the potential for 30,000 people in League One, a former players' association littered with internationals – could he bear the weight of that? I think every single day he has done this football club proud.
“I’m happy for every single person in this football club who works tirelessly every single day. As I’ve said to you before, we don’t get it right all the time. But we have a way of working, we’re passionate and we care about what we’re trying to do. We’re trying to rebuild this football club for its local community and its supporters. I think on Saturday, again, you saw a fanbase that was just incredible."
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As a newly-promoted club, Ipswich top the table Championship with less than three weeks of the regular season to go.
The Blues could be as low as fourth by the time their next game kicks off at 8pm on Saturday, April 27. The fact of the matter is, however, that if McKenna's men win their last three games - Hull (a), Coventry (a) and Huddersfield (h) - then Premier League status will be secured.
On trying to keep his emotions in check, Ashton said: “It’s not easy, but if it was easy then anyone would do it.
"I think what makes it more difficult for me is that I genuinely care so much. I think anyone who sees me or is around me on matchday will know that I’m naturally anxious. I’m not anxious for Kieran or the team, I’m anxious for everyone connected with the football club because we want to do them proud, we want to do this right and we want to do it well."
The Blues chief added: “We’ve given ourselves a great opportunity. And one thing everyone knows is that Kieran will have that squad, that staff, ready to compete and we will take it to the limit.
"As I’ve said before, with the size and specialness of this football club, with its history, with the uniqueness of this fanbase, I can’t do this on my own. Kieran can’t do it on his own. We have to do it as one. The fans are going to play a huge part in this, again, in the last three games.
“I said to you recently, every time we’ve asked this fanbase to step up they’ve stepped up. Well, we are going to have to step up again as one because this is going to take one mighty effort to get across the line. Together as one we’ve got a great chance."
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