Ipswich Town appoint Kieran McKenna as new manager following departure from Manchester United with Martyn Pert as his assistant

Kieran McKenna has tonight been confirmed as the new manager of Ipswich Town Football Club.

SuffolkNews revealed earlier today that the Northern Irishman, who had been employed as a key first-team coach at Manchester United, had been in advanced talks to succeed Paul Cook after suddenly entering the betting markets yesterday.

And the Suffolk club have tonight confirmed those talks have concluded with the 35-year-old having signed a three-and-a-half-year deal to become their 19th manager. It ends 12 days without a manager, with former player John McGreal having been put in interim charge.

There had been rumours that McKenna would bring former Town manager and promotion-winning player Jim Magilton with him but it is Martyn Pert, who he worked with at United, that has been named as his assistant.

Both are set to be in attendance for Saturday’s home fixture with Sunderland, though McGreal will remain in charge. McKenna's first press conference is scheduled for Monday.

Town CEO Mark Ashton told the club website: "I’m delighted to officially welcome Kieran and Martyn to the club.

"Kieran is a highly-respected young coach who has been working at the top level of English football and with one of the biggest clubs in world football for a number of years in Manchester United.

"He comes to the club with pedigree within the game and with exciting plans about how he is going to take the team forward. When we met, there was a clear meeting of minds in terms of how we will execute the vision of this football club.

"I’d like to reiterate my thanks to John McGreal, Kieron Dyer, Rene Gilmartin and Carl Pentney for stepping up to take care of first-team duties during the interim period. They will remain in charge for Saturday’s game against Sunderland.

"Finally, I’d like to place on record our gratitude to Ed Woodward and Manchester United for their professionalism and approach."

McKenna who worked under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as well as being kept on for the start of Ralf Rangnick's new regime, said: “I’d like to thank Mark Ashton and the owners for putting their faith in me and Martyn to take the club forward.

"Leaving a club like Manchester United was obviously a difficult decision, but I strongly believe in the opportunity to build something here.

"It feels like the right time, project and club to make my first step into first-team management.

"For now, the focus for the team has to be on a huge game on Saturday. After that, I cannot wait to meet everyone and get to work."

He inherits a Town side that lie 12th in the Sky Bet League One table, nine points off the play-offs after 22 games.

Born in London but raised in County Fermanagh, McKenna's playing days saw him progress through the youth ranks at Spurs.

In 2009, aged 23, he was forced to retire from playing due to a hip injury.

McKenna had captained Northern Ireland at every level from U17-U21 level.

Prior to joining United, Martyn had worked at clubs in the Premier League and Championship including Watford, where he achieved promotion to the top flight in the 2005/06 season.

A four-year spell as assistant manager at MLS side Vancouver Whitecaps followed, before he completed the switch to Old Trafford in October 2019.