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Ipswich Town column: Joey Sadler ponders if Kieran McKenna could be poached by a Premier League club




I love Ipswich Town. I’ve always loved this football club and after so many years of hurt, demise and neglect, it appears that many others inside and outside of the town are also back in love with this football club.

As a fanbase, we deserve every second of what we are witnessing right now and long may it continue.

The biggest problem Ipswich Town now face is keeping hold of their young, talented and to be honest, simply magnificent manager.

Suffolk News' Ipswich Town columnist Joey Sadler
Suffolk News' Ipswich Town columnist Joey Sadler

Success in football will never go unnoticed and whilst it’s pleasing to see our football club back in the limelight, it does also raise concern that too many clubs are going to find out just how impressive Mr Kieran McKenna really is.

For as long as Kieran McKenna is the manager, Ipswich Town will only continue to improve, develop and soar up the league.

He is the best coach outside of the Premier League, without a doubt, but I’m beginning to believe he’s even better than a fair few of them already in it.

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna gives instructions to captain-for-the-night Lee Evans during the Carabao Cup win against Premier League Wolves Picture: Barry Goodwin
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna gives instructions to captain-for-the-night Lee Evans during the Carabao Cup win against Premier League Wolves Picture: Barry Goodwin

The man is destined for the top and I think as Tractor Boys and Girls, we’ve always known that, so how long can we continue to enjoy him as our own at Portman Road?

Kieran is a clever man. His footballing IQ is clearly out of this world, but he seems to have the right head on his shoulders when it comes to non-footballing and life decisions, too.

I know I’ve just spent the first part of this column writing him a love letter, but you do have to say that McKenna has the luxury of a management team and ownership who are fully behind him and are happy to give him all the keys to the castle. And that’s something which is rare in football these days. It means the current managerial job at Ipswich Town would be a cracking job for anyone.

So would he really want to leave that all behind?

The Northern Irishman is not only loved by every single fan in the stadium each week, but also has the trust, support and financial backing from those above, meaning if there’s a player he feel is worth signing, the likelihood is that player will then be signed. And that is not to mention the fact he’s still got a young family who have adapted well and seem to love life in Suffolk, like we all do.

So with all things considered, should we be concerned he’s going to be jumping ship any time soon? Or is this a young manager with a project and a pretty likely chance that he’ll be given all the tools to achieve it? I’d go with the latter.

This is a club going right to the very top and I’m confident we’d find ourselves there eventually, whoever was the manager.

But in Kieran McKenna I think we have the man to get us there a lot sooner than expected, playing a brand of football which is just quite remarkable to watch, which certainly makes it more appeasing.

So lap it up, Town fans. Wear your shirt with pride, for it has been years since we’ve finally been able to do that and enjoy every single second of this Kieran McKenna side and everything it stands for.

You do get the feeling that whatever happens this season, it’s still going to be a fantastic ride.

Up next is a trip to The John Smith’s Stadium to face Huddersfield on Saturday.

It’s a game in which Town, on paper, will again be confident they can win, but a game which will also see new manager Darren Moore take charge of his first home game.

He’s a manager Town have struggled against in the past and will be keen to get one over on. But he’s also a manager who will be wary that his Huddersfield side are going to be right up against it this weekend.

I’d fancy us to get the job done. You always have to fancy us to get the job done. But I don’t think it will necessarily be easy.

Town have shown they can win games scrappily this season and we may need to see that side come out again, if they are to pick up maximum points in West Yorkshire

What a team, what a club and what a manager and I for one just cannot wait to watch them play the beautiful game, so beautifully, again this weekend. Up the Town.



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