Is McKenna's departure 'a surprise'?
- Published
Former Ipswich Town striker Alex Mathie told BBC Radio Suffolk he is "a bit surprised" by Kieran McKenna's resignation and reasoning.
"I must admit, I did say at the end of last season he may go to a bigger club. I am a bit surprised at the step down - I thought when he was at his peak he would keep going," he said.
"You don't know what toll the past five years have taken on him. I don't think he took the decision lightly. He has a young family.
"I'm sure he will be back within the next year or so. He will want to keep improving."
Ex-midfielder Alan Judge is not surprised though by McKenna's decision to have a break from football management.
"Funnily enough, I came across Kieran a few weeks ago in town and I spoke to him a little and he just said how much the season had taken out of him," Judge said speaking to BBC Radio Suffolk.
"Maybe he's looking at other managers that have coached for eight, nine, 10 years in a row and [thought] 'if I have a break now, that will give me a bit more longevity coaching-wise'. We know Kieran was 24/7, wasn't he?"
Judge, who played 91 times for the Blues between 2019 and 2021, added McKenna "elevated the club from the lowest to the best".
"I was there before he came in. We could all probably say Paul Cook made a little bit of a mess of what was going on and the turnover, and Kieran came in and he turned it right around.
"Not only are people saying he's a good coach but his man-management is top notch. He has done so much for the club."
