Manager appointment 'imminent' - Ashton

Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton says "there are still conversations to be had" but a managerial appointment is "imminent" at Portman Road, as the club prepares for its return to the Premier League.

It comes after Kieran McKenna resigned from his position just weeks after clinching promotion, his third in the past four seasons and his second into the top flight.

"Last time we were promoted, it brought real challenges," Ashton told BBC Radio Suffolk. "We had been outside of the Premier League for over two decades and we had less than 11 months or so in the Championship, so there was no time to build infrastructure.

"This time, the training ground will be built plus the recruitment, analysis, performance and medical departments have been enhanced on and off the pitch.

"It is going to be tough, but we are definitely more robust as a club this time around. We want to do everything we can to stay in this division.

"It will be tough for any incoming manager. When you appoint a manager in mid-table League One, you have time to bed them in and let them grow into a role. But this time, the manager is going to be straight in [the deep end].

"There are still conversations to be had, but I will say that time is key. The board have been really good in encouraging me to take as much time as I need to make sure I've done as much due diligence as I can do and that I'm as comfortable as I can be.

"I would say an appointment is now imminent."

Listen to Mark Ashton's full interview above or listen on BBC Sounds