The news today that manager Kieran McKenna has extended his current contract today by another 4 years, is easily the best news of the summer so far. His track record in management is exemplary and this is a clear testimony to his contentment at this club.
I was in Thailand when I heard of his appointment last December and turned around to friends and asked, “Kieran who?” Few of us knew what to expect with a trainer going into management for the first time, and although hindsight is a wonderful thing, he has exceeded all expectations – except perhaps CEO Mark Ashton, who said on his appointment that he realized within the first moments of their interview that he was the right man for the job! It was a gamble, of course, it was, but it was a calculated one.
And now we can all proudly look back at his managerial career stats with pride. He has managed 79 matches, won 44 of them, drawn 23, and lost just 12, and his win ratio percentage is at a staggering 55.7%! In my daily vlog today I inadvertently suggested it was one percentage point lower, so it is even more impressive than I initially suggested! I was never afraid of him leaving us because this is just the beginning of a long journey that might eventually take us back to the elite league with him still firmly at the helm. Why not I ask? He is an intrinsic part of this project and is committed to it.
You can look back at all the Ipswich Town managers in our history and nobody has started quite so well when you take on board the amount of games he has managed. I know, it is only in the third tier of English football, but he is learning on the job and doing exceedingly well at it! Yes, other big fish will be on the prowl if he continues in this vein at a higher level, but that should not deter him from putting the building blocks in place here first, before contemplating moving in the future to pastures new.
*** For more on this story and other hot news from today watch our daily vlog on YouTube: BEING FRANK ON IPSWICH TOWN It’s short and sweet and to the point.
And all Asia/Aus/NZ-based Ipswich Town fans might like this little link as well: https://chat.whatsapp.com/I8BBbBemTuEF5X06habFOf
