Kieran McKenna is outstanding in his field for Tractor Boys’ feat

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna during an open-top bus parade in the Suffolk town to celebrate promotion to the Premier League

Editorial

It makes perfect sense for a man from Fermanagh to lead a football club nicknamed The Tractor Boys to the Premier League. It’s a match made in heaven.

Kieran McKenna’s stock in the footballing world has never been higher, and next season he will take on the might of Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool and his old club, Manchester United, with Ipswich Town.

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A few eyebrows would have been raised when McKenna swapped the Old Trafford scene for League One strugglers Ipswich but he’s never looked back, having now secured successive promotions.

And it’s the time of year for open-top bus parades.

It’ll be especially joyful for supporters of Cliftonville, who have waited for 45 years between Irish Cup wins. Many of their current fans wouldn’t remember 1979.

And it will be a double celebration for Reds boss Jim Magilton. As a player he was promoted with Ipswich in 2000, played with them in the Premier League and went on to manage the club for three years.

Both men can reflect on jobs well done.