Town manager Kieran McKenna thinks the Blues are everything he could have hoped for when he came over in December 2021.

Since then, the 37-year-old Northern Irishman has been a major success at Portman Road, guiding the club to promotion from League One last season and up to second in the early stages of the Championship campaign.

When asked at Wednesday night’s Fans’ Forum if the job has gone as he expected after leaving the Manchester United backroom staff, McKenna answered, “I don’t think you can ever say what you expect in football.” I believe it has gone just how I had wanted.

“As I’ve previously stated, my first managerial job was always going to be a big decision for me personally, and coming to Ipswich Town when they were mid-table in League One was a big decision.”

“But it’s everything I could have wanted.” The ownership’s backing has been amazing, as has the support of [CEO] Mark [Ashton] and everyone on the boardroom level, including chairman Michael O’Leary.

“When investors come over, they are nothing but supportive, whether they are here or we have a talk on Zoom.

“The fans have been incredible to myself and my family in terms of welcoming us to the area, and I’ve come into a group of players who have been a joy to work with, and their professionalism and desire to be a part of something special at this club shows to this day, and a lot of them we’re still on that journey from where we started.”

“It’s been everything I could have hoped for, and I’m hoping for many more good years ahead.”

CEO Ashton was asked what he was most proud of during his time at the club, despite starting in June 2021 and being a part of the Gamechanger 20 Ltd buyout that was completed earlier this year.

“That’s a question Ed Schwartz [CEO of ORG, the US investment firm that manages funds on behalf of the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, which owns a 90% stake in Gamechanger 20 Ltd, of which he is a board member] asked me shortly after we were promoted: ‘Tell me, what do you think will happen in the first two years of your tenure?”

“Make no mistake, this gentleman [Kieran McKenna] is very important to us, as are these [pointing to his fellow panel members], as are Jacob [Henderson, who was MCing the event], as are the staff, and as are you [the fans].”

“But if I hadn’t taken this club to them and said, ‘This is the one, these are the reasons why we could acquire a club that is very special, maybe broken, maybe dented, but I believe it still has a heartbeat and we can help rebuild this football club quickly’.”

“Had I gotten that wrong, none of this would have happened, so whatever I go on to achieve or not achieve at this football club, I believe that single decision will be the defining moment for me.”