‘learned a lot’- Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna highlights FIVE lessons the club’s owners have learnt from this season’s Premier League relegation.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna believes the clubs owners will have ‘learned a lot’ from this season’s Premier League relegation.
The Blues’ rapid rise back to the top flight, following a 22-year absence, came after a US takeover in April 2021 and fresh American investment arriving last March.
More than £125m has been spent on transfer fees over the last two windows, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Blues being relegated with four games still to go.
Asked if the club’s owners had enjoyed their taste of the big time and still had the same enthusiasm, McKenna replied: “Most certainly. I think the ins and outs of that are questions for Mark (Ashton, chairman) and not myself.
“But we’ve got fantastic owners and investors. It’s not just about money, it’s about the support that they give, the clarity and composure that they give. They are a fantastic ownership group who support us in every way.
“They probably share the same emotions as many Ipswich fans and many Ipswich players and staff members. There’s been a lot to enjoy about the season, but we all would have enjoyed winning more games. Like everyone else involved in the football flub, they will have learned a lot as well.
“The plan is to use this year, and the progress over the last three years, as another step towards bringing the club forward to their ultimate aim of building and rebuilding an established Premier League football club.
“I’m sure they have taken a lot from this season, as we all have.”
The original Gamechanger 20 Ltd takeover group, whose money comes from the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, is led by Ed Schwartz and owns 50% of the club.
Another 40% is owned by US-based private equity firm, Bright Path Sports Partners, with the remaining 10% coming from smaller investors, including a small stake held by Suffolk superstar Ed Sheeran.
Schwartz insisted last July that there were no plans to sell the club, as indicated by a multi-million pound spend on infrastructure, saying: “We would like to be a long-term successful Premier League club. That’s certainly our goal.”
