Ipswich Town fans and former players have expressed their sadness and gratitude after manager Kieran McKenna announced he would be stepping down.
McKenna said on Wednesday night he would be leaving so he could spend time with his family after managing the team for four-and-a-half years.
He is one of the club’s most successful managers, having taken it through three successful promotions in four seasons.
Fan Sandra Cunningham told the BBC she believed McKenna was one of the best managers Town ever had.
Earlier this year, McKenna took the club through a successful promotion back up to the Premier League for the second time.
Fans celebrating the promotion spoke of their excitement to return to the top flight for the 2026-2027 season with him at the helm.
However, the rumour mill recently began to swirl, and there had been talk of leaving Town to head over to Fulham.
On Wednesday, it was confirmed he would not be making that move, but Town announced he would be instead taking a step back from football altogether.
In a statement, McKenna said he was ready to spend some time with his family.
“I feel this is the right time for me to step aside,” he said.
“I do so with great pride at the incredible progress we have made and with huge hope and optimism for the future of the club.
“After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far.”
Immediately, reactions started pouring in from the fans, some of which were very emotional.