Charlton manager Holden on ‘fascinating’ Manchester United impact made by Ipswich Town boss McKenna

Charlton Athletic manager Dean Holden has revealed he opened up lines of communication with Kieran McKenna when his Ipswich Town counterpart was coming through the coaching ranks at Manchester United.

The Addicks head to Portman Road this weekend, with the Suffolk hosts battling Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle for an automatic promotion spot.

Irishman McKenna was appointed Ipswich boss in December 2021. They finished 11th in that campaign but this time around have been one of the pacesetters from the very start of the season.

“It’s an exciting challenge for us, with the run we have been in recently,” Holden told the South London Press. “I know Ipswich had a slight sticky patch but they have come through that unbelievably well with the recent run they have been on. They had eight wins and were looking to get nine for the record, held by Sir Bobby Robson, last weekend. That shows you the form they have been in.

“It’s not a surprise they are up there. Everybody talks about the finances, salaries they have paid and the fees they have brought players in for. That is there for all to see and what people focus on. But I look a bit deeper. Kieran McKenna, in his first job, has done an excellent job up to now. He’s someone I got to know quite well when he was at Manchester United.

“I got in touch with him a few years back when I was at Bristol City, when I was on my own journey – tapping into the brains of young coaches. He had a different type of pedigree coming in. He was at Loughborough University. He played at Tottenham as a kid but had an injury.

“It’s just an interesting story. He came from Tottenham to Manchester United and then very quickly was utilised at first-team level by Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Effectively he became the brains of the operation while Ole was in charge as manager, I found that quite fascinating because I think he was only in his early thirties at the time.

“I picked his brains and vice-versa, we had some good conversations.

“He was a good help to me, on a personal level. It’s great to see him doing well.

“It’s a magnificent club. Despite the fees and salaries paid, you still have to build a successful team and go and win games of football – they have done that consistently, which is why they are where they are.

“It will be a big challenge for us, no doubt about that – 30,000 inside Portman Road. It will be good for our players, particularly the young ones, to go and experience that. Let’s see if we can get another result and keep on this decent run we’ve been on.