Kieran McKenna praised by new Ipswich Town investors
New Ipswich Town investors Jake Zahnow and Sam Simon have lavished praise on Mark Ashton and manager Kieran McKenna for their efforts at Portman Road.
Ipswich Town confirms fresh investment into the club.
The Tractor Boys have had a fantastic few years after being bought out by US investment group ORG, as they have contributed to the club’s on-field success as well as significant off-field expansion.
They hired Ashton as CEO and McKenna as the new head coach, and he has worked wonders over the last two years, leading the squad to the championship.
Now, Ipswich are third in the second tier, with back-to-back promotions a distinct possibility as they pursue their Premier League ambition.
As a result, anything that disrupted that system would be a cause for concern, so when the club revealed on Friday that US private equity firm Bright Path Sports Partners had purchased a 40% share in the club for up to £105 million, some people were surprised.
New Ipswich Town figures send clear message
However, in an interview with Town TV, as reported by the East Anglian Daily Times, Zahnow and Simon stated unequivocally that they had no plans to make any substantial changes, citing Ashton and McKenna as part of the charm that drew them to the club.
“I’ve had the pleasure of being invited over by Mark [Ashton] and Ed [Schwartz] to the promotion game from League One into the Championship last year. That’s where my partner Phil [Ciano] and I got hooked on this particular club, this management team, and that was the beginning of a long journey that culminates here today,” said Zahnow.
“We love the management, it’s amazing. The manager, the history of the team, the potential for growth, passionate fans. Really, what’s not to like? They’re amazing people, and I always say that I invest in people, I invest in management. This was perfect for us as a sign of sport. Mark shared how much will be invested into the league, the players, the facilities, the training ground. We’re big believers in investing for the future, and this is not for one or two years, this is for 100 years and on. This team got started in 1878, so this is beyond us,” Simon added.
Ipswich Town’s future
You can understand why there were concerns following this transaction, but given how the past few years have gone, it’s safe to assume the fans will trust the club’s main figures.
The statements of the new investors are positive because they acknowledge the tremendous work that has been done, and the relevance of Ashton and McKenna is clear to Ipswich going ahead.
As investors, they will ultimately have enormous ideas, but in terms of building the brand and gaining more followers, everything revolves around what happens on the pitch.
Therefore, everyone associated with Ipswich will be concentrated on winning back to the Premier League. The goal is to accomplish this this season, and it would be a remarkable tale if McKenna and the group could accomplish it within the upcoming few months.
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