Ipswich Town will use the summer transfer window to prepare for their return to the Championship.
The Suffolk-based club had a disappointing return to the top level, failing to overcome the gap between second-tier sides and established top-flight clubs after Kieran McKenna’s men collected only 22 points.
Ipswich understands that they would be expected to go straight back to the Premier League due to their superior financial resources over the remainder of the division, however cuts are unavoidable due to relegation.
It will undoubtedly be a critical period for Ipswich to guarantee they remain at the top of the second tier table, and FLW’s Ipswich Town fan pundit has described his nightmare scenario for the club this summer.
Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna leave nightmare scenario exposed
Speaking to Football League World, Ipswich Town fan pundit Adam Wilkin revealed that the Tractor Boys’ biggest concern this summer should be losing Kieran McKenna to a top-flight club, considering the 39-year-old’s ability to significantly enhance the playing roster since taking over at Portman Road.
Wilkin stated: “I believe the most obvious nightmare scenario in the transfer window is losing McKenna to a Premier League club.
“I can’t begin to describe Kieran McKenna’s impact on the football club, the style of football he’s introduced, and the development of some players who began as average League One players and went on to become Championship superstars, even competing in the Premier League.
| Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town record (all competitions as per Transfermarkt) | ||||
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | W% |
| 173 | 81 | 48 | ||
“He is an outstanding manager. One of the greatest we’ve had, and I’m confident he’ll go on to manage in the Premier League at some stage, although hopefully not before the end of the transfer window. I believe he is the most important aspect of the club culture, establishing standards and ensuring the club’s continued success.
“I believe losing him would be a greater blow than losing any of the players based on our recruitment plan and the players we’ve brought in.
“I don’t think there’s one or two players you’d be as disappointed to lose as McKenna.”
Ipswich Town will be one of the promotion contenders if they retain Kieran McKenna
Kieran McKenna has done an excellent job at Ipswich Town and is a big contributor to the club being only the fifth team in history to win back-to-back promotions from League One to the Premier League.
While the top-flight campaign did not go as planned, it was a valuable learning experience for the Northern Irishman, who will undoubtedly take what he needs to improve on and apply it in his next Premier League spell, whether with Ipswich or another club.
However, with Brentford reportedly interested in appointing set-piece coach Keith Andrews and McKenna already demonstrating devotion by declining the Brighton position, the Tractor Boys manager appears increasingly likely to stay at the club, which is great news.
McKenna would benefit greatly from his first experience achieving promotion from the second division, and if Ipswich can keep the majority of their squad, they shouldn’t be overlooked for another automatic promotion spot.
Keeping the former Manchester United first-team coach will be critical to Ipswich’s long-term success, and if he stays, the club will be a force to be reckoned with in the Championship.
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