Ipswich Town promoted to Premier League: Kieran McKenna's reaction

The Blues beat Huddersfield Town 2-0 at Portman Road this afternoon to secure second spot in the Championship table with 96 points and 92 goals scored.

It's an amazing achievement which comes fresh from the impressive feat of finishing second in League One with 98 points and 101 goals scored. 

"It feels incredible," said McKenna. "It's an incredible achievement. It's such a range of emotions today, thankfully all positive. I'm overjoyed for everybody.

"I'm so proud of the efforts. I'm relieved as well, I have to say. When you get to the end point, it's such a big thing. It doesn't come around every year, it doesn't come around every decade something like this. We really wanted to finish it off right. I'm just delighted."

Asked if the magnitude of what's been achieved over the last two years had fully sunk in for him yet, the Blues boss replied: "No, no it hasn't to be honest. I've been so disciplined, and the staff have, and the players have, of not getting carried away, not thinking about what we've done, not thinking about what's gone before.

"I'm sure over the next couple of days, 96 points in the Championship, as a newly-promoted team, with so many of the same group that we had two years ago, the way that we've done, the style we've done it in... I think it's an incredible achievement and one that will go down for many, many years."

Kieran McKenna celebrates with supporters after promotion is secured. (Image: PA)

McKenna left his role as Manchester United assistant manager to take charge of Ipswich when they were midtable in League One back in December 2021.

"I don't think you could have imagined this could happen, certainly not in this timescale," he said.

"It was a long road, there was a lot of work to be done. We had the goal to get promotion and to eventually try and get promoted again, but there are so many big clubs in the pyramid thinking the same.

"To achieve this has taken an incredible amount of work. To have done it in the timescale we've done it, with 98 points then 96 points, to have done it in one of the toughest Championships there has ever been from a statistical point of view, is incredible.

"This has come before anyone could have expected. That's going to bring it's challenges ahead, but that's not for now. For now it's about revelling in these wonderful days that we've been privileged to have."

On the subject of preparing for Premier League football, McKenna said: "It's a massive step up, there's no doubt about it. It's not something I want to think about too much today, but I know it's a humungous step up in every department of the football club.

"It's going to be a massive, massive challenge to even be competitive in the Premier League. We know there are some big, big challenges ahead, but they are challenges to look forward to, challenges to embrace.

"No-one externally thought we could get to this point. Those are things to look forward to, but they're things to think about next week. This weekend is for revelling in what we've done so far."

He continued: "I've coached in the Champions League when I was 31/32, I've coached in the Premier League, been involved in those big games and it's brilliant. You want to test yourself against the best clubs, the best teams, the best coaches. It's going to be a great challenge to go and do that again.

"For me, my value comes in how I help the people around me, how I represent the football club that I'm working for, how I try and improve the team, the players and the club. Of course it's going to be fantastic to have that challenge in the Premier League next year, but it's been fantastic to have it this year in the Championship and it was fantastic to do it last year in League One too."

McKenna has been linked to the likes of Celtic, Leicester and Crystal Palace during his Town journey, with recent reports suggesting Brighton are eyeing him up as a potential replacement for Roberto De Zerbi.

Asked if he wanted to continue on this journey with Ipswich, McKenna replied: "I love it here, it's a fantastic club. I'm so proud to be the manager of this football club and I've worked so hard at it every day. I give so much of myself. 

"I'm just focused on enjoying that journey. The speculation has been there for the last two years to be honest and I've shown loyalty to the club through that. I'm really pleased that I've stuck with it and how we've achieved what we have achieved. There are some big and exciting steps to come for the football club."

On his own personal journey, he reflected: "I moved away from home just turned 16 to try and fulfil one dream. There are a lot of sacrifices that you make. I've had to pivot on that journey at 22 (due to injury) and I've had 15 years plus now of work, of sacrifice, of learning, of trying to improve myself and of course you can't do that without the amazing support of your family. It's been an incredible journey."

On his celebration plans, McKenna said: "Honestly, there's nothing planned. There's been a monk-like discipline from everyone. I've not booked dinner tonight. I've not made a plan past 3pm. We were so consumed about trying to go out there and perform after the schedule we've had.

"Thankfully we've now got some time, it's quite a big break from the end of the Championship season to the start of the Premier League season, so we'll use that time well.

"There's a lot of work to be done and we will work very hard over the summer. But for sure I'm going to enjoy this moment and enjoy a holiday. The family deserve to have a large share of my attention for a while."