Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna reveals Charlton Athletic signing Scott Fraser was 'desperate' to leave to be 'automatic first choice' and 'main man'

It was the January transfer which raised eyebrows among a section of Ipswich Town's fanbase but Scott Fraser's Portman Road exit was very much driven by the player, Kieran Mckenna has revealed.

The summer arrival of the 26-year-old attacking midfielder who scored 14 goals from 44 League One appearances at MK Dons last season was seen as something of a transfer coup under Paul Cook's tenure with the new Gamechanger 20 Ltd ownership group.

But the Dundee-raised player, who was said to have had Championship interest ahead of the move to Suffolk, was sold to fellow League One club Chartlon Athletic on transfer deadline day on Monday.

The former Dundee United and Burton Albion player departed for the captial having made 15 league appearances for the Blues, 20 in total, scoring one goal.

But he never featured under McKenna, other than as an unused substitute in the former Manchester United coach's first game in charge, the 1-0 home win over Wycombe Wanderers on December 29. He was then said to have not appeared in subsequent squads after picking up an injury.

"Obviously I didn't get a chance to see Scott live in a match or work with him for too long with the short period," the manager said, when asked about the late window move in this afternoon's pre-Gillingham press conference.

"That was one where Scott was desperate to go, to be honest.

"From early conversations with him he felt like he hadn't quite settled at the club how he wanted.

"Obviously he came here in the summer as part of a big recruitment drive and a lot of players came in here and he didn't feel like he had managed to settle either from the footballing point of view or the personal point of view how he would have wanted.

"So he was very keen and had a strong desire to go and play somewhere where he felt like he was going to be an automatic first choice and he wanted to feel like he was the main man at the club.

"I had some discussions with him, I obviously respected his opinion on that and he was always highly respected and thought of here.

"He was a player I didn't get to see very much but as I say it was more about Scott's personal wishes and respected those with his desire to go somewhere where he felt like he was going to be an automatic starter and one of the biggest players at the club.

"Obviously for us, like I've said, having the group dynamic is very important to me, having the right numbers and the right depth as well as players here who really want to be part of the squad. "Players who have an affinity to where we want to go to and are ready to contribute to the squad whenever they are needed is very important for us.

"We felt like that was the best move for everyone at that stage."

He also revealed the transfer fee which was put forward by the Addicks for the player who signed a three-year contract in the summer, was an attractive one.

And he felt his departure would not leave his squad short of options in the number 10 and wide forward area role, the latter where Fraser had mainly featured to the frustration of some fans.

"A very good offer came in from Charlton that was something that Scott wanted to pursue," he said.

"As a club we felt we had good numbers and good depth in that position and that was how it progressed over the last few days.

"We wish Scott all the best, obviously we move forward here with the players that we have. As I say, we feel we have good cover in that position and we can only wish Scott the best in his time at Charlton."

McKenna also revealed there had been no bid from the Blues for young central midfielder Jay Matete, who had been linked on social media with Town ahead of completing a transfer to Sunderland from Fleetwood Town.

Although acknowledging the talented player and being aware of him, he said: "We're happy with what we have in those positions.

"Obviously players move between clubs and we're obviously a big club in this division and in this country and we get linked with a lot of players.

"Our name is involved in any player that probably moves at this sort of level.

"Obviously our name was involved with that player as well but there was no movement on that one from us in January."