Enniskillen native Kieran McKenna has led Ipswich Town to successive promotions and is excited by the prospect of competing with the big guns in the English Premier League
The Enniskillen native has led the Tractor Boys to successive promotions and is excited by the challenge of competing in the Premier League
Robson spent 13 years at the club, leading Ipswich to their one and only FA Cup success in 1978 and to their one and only European trophy, the Uefa Cup, in 1981. Ipswich were a top-flight and European authority. Robson, too, then did some time with England. McKenna, now 38, has this club and those players facing Liverpool rather than Gillingham. Next Saturday it’s Manchester City away. Two years ago this month Ipswich’s first away game of the season was at Forest Green Rovers.
But the atmosphere faded as the anticipated bounce-back to the Championship became instead four seasons in League One with not even the play-off places reached in the first three of them. The ownership of Marcus Evans grew steadily more unpopular; Ipswich were not being milked, as a club it just dried up.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna: His side scored 26 goals in the last 15 minutes of games as they clinched promotion to the Premier League. Photograph: Zac Goodwin/PA Wire In McKenna’s second full season – last season – once again Ipswich finished second, six points clear of Leeds United in third. It was a convincing margin secured by being the division’s top scorers. There were again few losses and many draws; they scored 26 goals in the last 15 minutes of games, the division’s best and more than a quarter of the overall total.
In March US-based Bright Path Sports acquired 40% for £105m. The stadium and training ground have been upgraded. Ipswich Town look as professional and ambitious as their manager. Still, Ipswich are odds-on to go down. Due to their long time away from the top flight and the spotlight, they will be this season’s Premier League novelty. They are not quite Blackpool from 2010 or Luton Town from last season, but of fresh intrigue.
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