Fans' relief as manager signs new four-year contract

Supporter Rhys Gooding thanked Kieran McKenna for extending his contract with Ipswich Town

Football fans have expressed their relief after a club's manager extended his contract with the team.

Kieran McKenna signed a new four-year contract with Ipswich Town and said he was "extremely proud" to do so.

He took the club through back-to-back promotions, with the most recent being a push into the Premier League for the first time in 22 years, but some supporters were concerned he could move clubs.

After the new deal, fans said the news had left them incredibly optimistic for the next season.

'Pure relief'

Rhys Gooding has been a Town fan his whole life

Rhys Gooding, 29, who was originally from Ipswich but now lives near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, has been a Town fan all his life.

While he said he was "very happy" with the signing, there was mainly "a lot of relief".

"It's been a drawn out week or two with all the rumours swirling around and the rumour mill can stop now," he told BBC News.

"We can focus on next season. It's been good to see that he has re-signed."

Mr Gooding, who runs his own YouTube account Link Gooding, which shared all things Town related, said he believed the club would finish mid table next season.

"We should definitely be competitive," he added.

'Best signing of the season'

Tim Kenny said he was optimist about next season since Kieran McKenna's managerial signing

Tim Kenny, 51, who was born in Ipswich but lives in Felixstowe, went to his first Town game in 1981 and has been a season ticket holder for 25 years.

"I am delighted - best signing of the season so far as he's been at the heart of everything the club has done for the past two years," he said.

"I don't think I was as nervous as some people were, a lot of friends of mine were panicking but I had this feeling he would stay with us.

"It feels he thinks there's a project here that he might not get at somewhere like Chelsea, Man United or Brighton."

Mr Kenny said the club had given him "two of the best years of supporting" them that he could remember.

"They just need to keep doing what they are doing," he added.

'Right place, right people'

Audrey Cobb, 79, from Felixstowe, became an Ipswich Town social media sensation after sending her glasses flying when punching the air in celebration during promotion celebrations earlier this month.

"I was in the car [when I heard the news] and I shot my arms up in the air," she said of McKenna's signing.

"I'm so, so, so pleased. Those other teams can get their own managers, they're not going to have ours, we need him here.

"He's staying in the right place, with the right people.

"I think given time Kieran will get the team to the top of the Premier division, I really think that."

'A dark horse'

Andy Cumbers (left) previously met Town's ambassador Matt Holland

Andy Cumbers, 47, lives in Maldon, Essex and recently got BBC Radio Suffolk's commentary about Ipswich Town tattooed on himself.

He had previously been living in Portsmouth where he was able to watch the promotion along with the South Coast Tractor Boys fan group in that area.

"First and foremost I am relieved and delighted," he said about McKenna.

"I was always thought he would stay but the more the rumours on social media went on, the more I thought he could go.

"It would have been devastating after what we've achieved."

Mr Cumbers believed the signing gave the club "security" and they had a good chance of staying up in the league.

"I think with [McKenna] working with Mark Ashton we're going to be a dark horse for next season, a surprise package," he continued.

"We need to continue with the momentum going forward.

"We go again next season - come on you Blues!"

'We continue this journey together'

Kieran McKenna has extended his contract with Ipswich Town until 2028

In a statement, McKenna said: "I am so happy to have committed my future to taking the next step with Ipswich Town and I am really excited for what's ahead as we continue this journey together."

He added that he was "excited to have the opportunity and responsibility" of leading the "fantastic" club into its first Premier League season in 22 years.

According to the Blues boss, planning for the "challenge ahead" was ongoing and there was "plenty of work still to do".

Town CEO, Mark Ashton, added that McKenna's signing was a "significant boost".

"We are delighted Kieran has further committed his future to the club," he said.

"Success brings its own challenges and there has been considerable speculation in recent weeks, but Kieran and I have continued to communicate throughout, often several times a day, as we plan for the Club’s first Premier League season in a generation."