Ipswich’s Matt Penney hoping to make it third loan hit move in a row after Charlton Athletic transfer

Matt Penney has savoured his last two loan moves, with the left-back hoping to make it a hat-trick of successful temporary switches after joining Charlton Athletic.

The 24-year-old had been a target for the Addicks in the summer of 2021, only for the former Sheffield Wednesday youngster to opt for big-spending Ipswich Town.

Penney’s hopes of game time at the Tractor Boys was dented by them splashing out a seven-figure sum to sign Leif Davis from Leeds in July.

Penney agreed a six-month loan deal with Motherwell at the end of August and featured 18 times. Fir Park manager Steve Hammell described the defender as “an outstanding addition”.

Penney won two of the Wells’ Player of the Month awards but headed back to his parent club on January 18.

He was aware of Charlton’s interest as the winter transfer window opened.

“It’s been on and off for two or three weeks, maybe a bit longer,” Penney told the South London Press.

“I spoke to the gaffer [Dean Holden] a couple of weeks back and we had a really positive chat. But then other things happened in terms of Ipswich and Motherwell, there were bits to sort out.

“[Last] Thursday lunchtime it was off and then Thursday evening it was on. Thankfully I was able to get down the training ground on Friday morning, get it all sorted and crack on and train.

“The initial loan to Motherwell was only until January. I know they wanted to extend it, but I wanted to come back and play in England. When that opportunity arose, it was a bit of a no-brainer.

“There is no bad blood. I loved my time up there. I can only thank Motherwell.”

Penney was 21 when he joined German club St Pauli on loan. He linked back up with Jos Luhukay, who had been his manager at Wednesday.

Despite being in the second tier, the Hamburg club have a worldwide profile – vigorously opposing any kinds of discrimination.

“I felt if I didn’t take that opportunity then I’d probably regret it in the future – you don’t know if that type of moment will come up again,” said Penney, who was sent off on his debut, a 2-1 win over Holstein Kiel, for kicking the ball away in the closing stages.

“It was probably one of the fondest memories in my career.

“The season I was there we did the double in the Hamburg derby and I scored in the away fixture at their place. The club’s values and beliefs, what they represent, are fantastic. It’s not just a football club, it’s more of a family.”

Ipswich has been more of a mixed bag for Penney.

He played fairly frequently in the 2021-22 campaign until January and then came back into the fold in April, featuring in the 4-0 win over Charlton in East Anglia.

Kieran McKenna succeeded Paul Cook in the Portman Road hotseat in December 2021.

Asked about his absences from the squad, Penney said: “There was no injury. I was just maybe out of favour at the time.

“The old manager Paul Cook decided, for whatever reason, that maybe I wasn’t doing what he wanted me to do.

“A new manager came in and I was able to kick on again. Some people love you and some people hate you. It’s just how football is.

“There have been times my face has fitted and then when it hasn’t fitted. I came back this pre-season raring to go, I spent all of it at Ipswich, and then they brought Leif in. He has done really well. It just wasn’t to be.”

When Ipswich confirmed Penney’s  exit on their official website, they also spelled out that they hold a  clause to extend his contract by a further 12 months. If not then he will be a free agent.

Penney says he is not focused on anything other than trying to add even more impetus to Charlton’s recent upturn in results since Holden replaced Ben Garner last month.

“As generic an answer as it is, that is my situation,” he said. “I know Ipswich have got the option on me in the summer.

“All I can focus on is giving my best for Charlton and helping the boys as much as possible to get the club in the right direction.

“Whatever will be in the summer, will be. I’ll look at it then. My sole focus is helping Charlton get into the play-offs and beyond.”

But how likely is it that the South Londoners can make the top six?

This is their third successive season in League One – the longest successive spell they have had at this level – and there is every chance they could make it an unwanted fourth.

Charlton are 15th in the table and eight points behind sixth-placed Barnsley, who have a match in hand.

The Addicks have already been defeated eight times this season – three of the clubs who made the play-offs last time around only lost nine games out of 46 fixtures.

“The boys are on fire at the minute,” said Penney. “In football you can never say never. It’s a crazy industry, it’s a crazy sport and there are crazy results every week.

“There’s no reason we can’t go on a run and win five, six or seven on the bounce.

“It’s just about focusing on the next one, grinding out the points and seeing where it takes us come the end of the season.

“There’s no reason we can’t get to the play-offs and have a real good go. That’s what I’d love to do – get in the play-offs and make a statement.

“It’s about me playing football, enjoying it and doing the best I can for the team I’m representing.”