Kieran McKenna guides Ipswich Town back to ‘promised land’

To avoid the problems Luton, Sheffield United and Burnley have experienced in the Premier League following promotion last season, McKenna may need to improve the squad by more than the 20% figure Mills suggested last summer.

“When you go into the best league in the world, there will be changes,” former Ipswich, Liverpool and Scotland midfielder John Wark told BBC Radio Suffolk.

Town should be in a healthier state financially following the recent purchase of a 40% stake in the club by US private equity firm Bright Path Sports Partners at a cost of “up to £105m”.

But money or not, McKenna has shown that he is capable of getting experienced players to perform better than they have earlier in their careers – former Barnsley forward Conor Chaplin, for example, has contributed 42 goals in the past two seasons.

McKenna is also adept at enhancing the skills of younger talent, with Leif Davis supplying 18 assists this season from the left wing-back position.

And when striker George Hirst suffered an injury which kept him out for several weeks, Wales international Kieffer Moore was recruited on loan in January and has weighed in with seven goals.

“He’s an unbelievable manager, his attention to detail is second to none,” Moore has said of McKenna.

“You can see it in everything he does, the way he delivers presentations and training sessions, the way he goes about his business is top notch. I can really see the gaffer having an amazing career.”