‘Overwhelming Support for McKenna: Three Years On’

Relegation struggles have plagued Ipswich Town, and the 4-0 thrashing at home instilled fear among the fans, but Portman Road witnessed an unexpected spectacle on Saturday.

As Newcastle United’s supporters reveled in a superb, dominant victory, the Ipswich faithful maintained a buoyant spirit. Drums beat, bodies bounced, and the air was filled with deafening chants in support of their beleaguered team, a testament to the bond between club and supporters.

Walk into Portman Road, and you’d be forgiven for believing the hosts had just claimed a vital point rather than suffering their most humiliating defeat in over a year, with memories of last season’s glorious promotion promptly overshadowed by the harsh realities of the Premier League.

Ipswich head honcho Kieran McKenna expressed his gratitude in light of this unusual atmosphere.

“The crowd were very good,” noted the 38-year-old, marking this pivotal week as he celebrates three years at the helm, a time when he inherited a team languishing in mid-table of League One.

“The game was realistically over at 3-0. Of course, we didn’t give up and when they got the fourth, it was about showing the right character – and the crowd did too. They stuck with us really well. They know the journey we’ve been on and understand how hard it’s been to be as competitive as we’ve been this season. We’re grateful for their support and don’t take that for granted.”

Yet the reality is that the Premier League is a relentless learning curve, with daunting fixtures against Arsenal away and Chelsea at home looming ominously on the horizon for Ipswich.

In this unforgiving realm of the Premier League, Ipswich’s relegation rivals like Leicester, Southampton, and Wolves have felt the wrath of the boardroom, with managers being shown the door without hesitation. However, Ipswich legend Mick Mills, an architect of the club’s past glories as captain, insists that McKenna is on safe ground.

When queried about potential job pressures on the Northern Irishman, Mills emphatically declared, “none whatsoever,” adding, “If you use management like a bank account then he has a lot of money in that account and will have to do a lot of bad things to go overdrawn.”

“I’ve loved these three years, I really have. Kieran is the main person responsible for this, then it’s people like [chairman] Mark Ashton and the off-field team and the players, and the fans have come back to the club.”

“Southampton and Leicester are different to Ipswich as we’ve been away from the Premier League for a long time. If we do slip back down, it’s not a catastrophe and will be something we have to accept. But I’m absolutely convinced this team that might go down is better than the team that brought us up.”

“Kieran will not be able to win over everyone, but anybody that knows anything about football knows Kieran McKenna was a good appointment and is a good manager to have.”

Ipswich Town, once the pride of England in 1962, had a brief renaissance in the Premier League, peaking at fifth place and qualifying for Europe during the 2000-01 season. Yet, the ensuing descent into relegation and turmoil left fans grappling with the unending cycle of disappointment.

Fast forward to today, and it’s been 17 years since Ipswich supporters cheered a home victory in the top tier—an agonizing drought that has seeped into the fabric of the club.

With seasons marked by relegation, financial distress, and multiple play-off heartbreaks, generations of loyal followers were shackled in a cycle of despair. The nadir arrived in December 2021 when Paul Cook’s departure prompted a crisis, leaving the club spiraling toward its lowest finish in nearly 70 years.

A 0-0 stalemate with League Two Barrow—attended by a measly crowd of fewer than 6,500 fans—was the final straw, evoking despair and outrage among supporters. However, Kieran McKenna’s arrival amid this chaos sparked a renaissance few could have anticipated.

McKenna’s first managerial role may have come at the tender age of 35, but his background in elite youth development at Tottenham and Manchester United (under the tutelage of stars like José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjær) laid the groundwork for what has been a remarkable ascent. Expectations were tempered as fans braced themselves when he took charge, but what has transpired is a narrative of revival that exceeds all forecasts.

Back-to-back promotions were not merely a dream; they were achieved with a breathtaking flourish, scoring 101 goals and amassing 98 points in League One, followed by a dazzling performance of 92 goals and 96 points in the Championship.

“The club had been stagnating for years and it was unlikely to be a quick fix. There was no magic wand – or so we thought,” reflected Brenner Woolley, a commentator for BBC Radio Suffolk since 2003.

“Kieran’s arrival has to be the best moment in the club’s recent history, bringing joy to a generation that has suffered through prolonged hardships.”

The club’s journey, however, is not merely a tale of transgressions; it’s one of rebirth and renewed aspirations. Players, like left-back Leif Davis, who joined the side from Leeds in 2022, have echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s hard to take in considering where we were two years ago. When I came, they said, ‘We’d love to be established in the Championship in four years’.”

“That seemed realistic, but getting to the Premier League within two years, it’s been a dream and amazing to be involved with. But we’re not satisfied just being here. We want to do well.”

Yet, as the team faced Newcastle, it was a sobering reminder of their current status. Six players from the squad had made the transition up from League One—proof of the incredible leap they have made, but also a pointed reminder that this game served as a staging point in their development.

“This was one of the most disappointing days of the season,” reflected lifelong Ipswich fan Phil Ham, editor of independent supporters’ website TWTD., external

“It’s always going to be tough against a team like Newcastle with their line-up. You come into home games hoping, and most times we’ve been competitive, but every time Newcastle broke they looked like they were going to score.”

“People are realistic about the size of the challenge; having come up two divisions in two years, and there was an expectation there would be days like this. But there’s no clamour for a change and people realize we’ve come a long way in a short time.”

As the season unfolds, Ipswich finds itself clinging to a precarious 19th position, with points leveled with Wolves yet narrowly ahead of Southampton in the relegation battle, merely two points away from safety.

The signs of promise, such as a thrilling 2-2 draw against Aston Villa and a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Tottenham, paint a glimmer of hope. Nonetheless, the nagging worry persists with the fact that they have squandered 15 points from winning positions—a statistic that looms large.

“We believe Town are capable of staying up, and while it’s going to be tough, there are signs they can upset the odds,” Woolley remarked optimistically. “It would be a monumental achievement though.”

McKenna, armed with extensive goodwill from the faithful, remains confident.

“The tiniest minority of fans have had the odd grumble when wins have been hard to come by, but the vast majority worship him,” he highlighted.

“I would be staggered if relegation resulted in him getting the sack. I can’t see that at all. Whatever happens this season, there’s no-one I’d rather see in charge of Ipswich Town.”