Former Championship manager Tony Pulis believes that Kieran McKenna has done a ‘great job’ at Ipswich Town - but argued that they aren’t one of the best promoted sides in the history of the division.

The Blues currently sit third in the league table behind Leicester City and Leeds United, although they have a game in hand on both of their automatic promotion rivals.

They’ve accumulated 89 points with three matches still to play, already giving them the highest total of any side that has just stepped up from League One.

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Despite that, Pulis – who was controversially sacked after just 10 games in his last job at Sheffield Wednesday back in 2020 - argues that there are ‘a lot of other managers who have done it better’, albeit he’s full of praise for the direction that Town are heading in.

“You had Swansea under John Toshack, Wimbledon were great under Dave Bassett, Watford went through the leagues under Graham Taylor,” he said via OLBG.

“Kieran McKenna has done a great job at Ipswich but there are a lot of other managers who have done it a lot better.

“He has done a fabulous job, mind you. They've got new owners who are backing McKenna and signing Kieffer Moore must've cost good money despite only being on loan. Most of the Championship would have wanted him!

East Anglian Daily Times: Pulis has managed 10 different clubs in England, including Crystal Palace, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday.Pulis has managed 10 different clubs in England, including Crystal Palace, West Brom, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday. (Image: PA)

“Mark Ashton is a good lad, too. I know Mark. Everyone at the football club has pulled in the right direction.

“It's a fabulous club who are so well supported.”

Having guided Stoke City to promotion from the Championship in 2008, Pulis knows what it takes to reach the Premier League. His managerial career spanned over three decades, having taken charge of more than 1,100 matches.

His advice to McKenna is to make sure he ‘controls his emotions’ during the run-in, as that will give him the best chance of securing a place in the top flight.

“Managers like Kieran McKenna, who are fighting for promotion at this time of the season, have got make sure they manage themselves and control their emotions first and foremost,” he explained. “The ones that can do that best will succeed. 

“I really think that coping with this is period of the season is why managers get paid the money they do.”