Town boss Kieran McKenna insists he’s not thinking about promotion ahead of Saturday’s final home game of the season against Exeter City with victory guaranteeing a top two spot and a place in the Championship next season.

Quizzed on what promotion would mean to him at his pre-match press conference ahead of the game against the Grecians, McKenna said: “Honestly, I'm not thinking about it. The time to think about it and answer that question, and I don't want to not answer the question, but the time to answer that is after the game.

“We're very aware of the position and, as I've said, I'm humbled and honoured to be the manager of this football club and to be part of trying to restore it to where we want to get to and where the supporters want to be.

“But the focus has to be on each step along the way towards success and that's where the focus has been, and that's where it is now. And the next step to success is going out and putting a performance in against Exeter.

“So, my mindset has been not to let my concentration or my thoughts anywhere past that. We've made sure that the players are the same. And I think the time to reflect on what has or hasn't been achieved, and the next steps and what we've done already is at the end of the season.

“We're really looking forward to the game, as we have all of the games at Portman Road. It's always a privilege to go there as a staff and a group of players and represent the club in front of a great support, so tomorrow is certainly no different in that regard.”

Has blocking out the outside noise since Tuesday’s brilliant 3-0 win at Barnsley been more difficult?

“Not particularly,” the Northern Irishman reflected.” We've spoken about these things since the start of the season. There are things you can control and things you can't control, and outside noise is one of those that you certainly can control.

“Of course, when you're doing badly, the outside noise gets a little bit louder. And then when you're doing particularly well or you get a couple of big results the outside noise gets louder, and we can't impact those things.

“It's lots of good things, lots of positive things going on, but our focus remains on what we can control, and that is preparing as well as we can to go and deliver a performance tomorrow.”

Has he allowed himself or the players to dream at all? Or has there been a conscious effort to block that out?

“Honestly, none,” McKenna said. “And the players have been really good about that as well. We've got some experienced players in the dressing room and they've managed that really well.

“There's no time to think of anything past Saturday. We have to keep focusing, as we have been, on our processes, on our performances and there's no time to let your mind drift to anything past that really because we know that in football as soon as you do that then that's when you're going to get caught out.

“We know the position that we're in, we know that nothing is done yet and we know that we're going to have to go out and deliver at least one more really good performance, so that's what we're 100 per cent focused on.”

The Town squad appears one which is level-headed and doesn’t need much managing in terms of the emotions surrounding Saturday’s match but McKenna says there have been conversations on that subject.

“We do speak about it and you’ve got different experience levels in the dressing room,” he said.

“We’ve got some younger players who are in their first season of playing senior football, we’ve got players who haven’t been involved in this type of situation.

“We’ve got players who have been involved in this type of situation a few times over. I think there’s no doubt at this stage of the season, emotions are higher, that’s normal, that’s healthy.

“We want to be in these situations, it’s a lot better than being at the end of the season with nothing to play for.

“But the group knows that we need to keep doing what we have been doing, which is not get caught up in any emotions and focus on the things that we can control.

“We’ve spoken about it, the players speak amongst themselves a lot, I know that there are good messages within the group and it’s just about trying to execute now under the conditions that we’ll be in tomorrow.”

How does he keep a lid on his own emotions as he goes into the game which could win him his first promotion as a manager.

“As a leader you have to practice as you preach and if I can’t control my emotions and stay focused on the process and preparing for the game and getting the details right, then you can’t expect anyone else to,” he said.

“Of course, you have experiences in the past that you draw on, experiences at previous clubs, whether that’s competing for Champions League positions or different things that come at the end of the season.

“We all have our different experiences that you draw upon and we all try and be consistent with our messages, and I think it’s really important that the staff model the things we want to see in the players and we try and do that.”

Has he learnt lessons from being alongside the likes of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United.

“All the people that you work with and the people that you come across, you live certain experiences with them,” he said.

“You also speak to them about previous positions they’ve been in and how they’ve handled different situations and, of course, competing for something at the end of the season is one of those situations.

“You draw on those experiences and the messages are always pretty similar in any walk of life, that you have to focus on what you can control, focus on doing the right things and being consistent with what you’ve done and not get caught up in anything that’s outside your control.

“There are certain bits about a week like this that we have to enjoy and the atmosphere in the stadium and those things are one of those, but we know that we know that we need to go and do our job, so that’s where our focus is.”

Asked wether, if all goes well tomorrow, whether he has a celebration planned, McKenna laughed: “Zero, I’ve not got any plans whatsoever past 4.45 tomorrow.”

Photo: TWTD

Saxonblue74 added 16:13 - Apr 28 I'm afraid I don't believe you guvnor!🤣
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Blueray added 16:22 - Apr 28 Ha...I agree Saxon Blue...it is hard to believe, but I admire his well intented stone walling. Jeez, not felt this (positively) nervous since....erm...I dont know when! Probably Bolton semi final playoff 2000? I was always pessimistic in the play off since then....
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DocMartyn added 16:23 - Apr 28 Actually, I do believe him. Everything he's said is entirely consistent with how we've gone about our business, and the messages that the players have given out. This relentless focus on the process is why we are in the position we're in, and why the team seems so much more resilient and able to grind out result (the new signings also helped, of course).
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Ipswichbusiness added 16:37 - Apr 28 What a load of public relations tosh. He has been thinking about promotion from the day he was brought in; that was his job. Everything the Club has done has been aimed at promotion, you have to be heroically naive to believe otherwise.
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Radlett_blue added 16:40 - Apr 28 Whatever McKenna says, it's impossible for the players not to know that a win on Saturday guarantees promotion, the prize that they have strived for all season and in front of a sell out crowd. If that doesn't get them going, nothing will. And yes, they need to maintain focus & do what they've been doing for the last 13 games.
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SpiritOfJohn added 16:42 - Apr 28 Great to read that the boss is taking nothing for granted. His approach has been first class throughout the season. Win, lose or draw he'll be thinking about what we can improve ahead of the next game.
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NthQldITFC added 16:49 - Apr 28 It's a Geoffrey Boycott-like defence of the one game at a time mantra, this, and I for one love it.
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OldFart71 added 17:02 - Apr 28 Very much doubt Keiran hasn't glanced at the table and that he's not aware if we win tomorrow we are promoted. But it is correct that he instills in the players the need to concentrate on Exeter. Once you start looking beyond where you are, whether that's football or in your personal life you end up not getting what you believe you will. I am in my 70's and it doesn't pay to think whether you are 5 or 50 to believe anything is cast in stone. I have known children die and friends and work colleagues pass on who are 15 or 20 years than myself and gone through divorce and had many disappointments but also great times along the way. So never take anything for granted. I have followed Town since the late 50's when I went with my dear old dad, who sadly passed away back in 2009 and I have seen the ups and downs of ITFC during that time. Sadly more downs than ups for two decades. Enjoy it whilst it lasts.

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Europablue added 17:03 - Apr 28 We do need to do our best to treat it like any other game. Like KM said, the players should be buoyed and buzzing to play in front of a packed-out Portman Road. It will be a very special atmosphere tomorrow. We just need to let the occasion energize us and come out very strong. If we get an early goal it could be another big score, but if we go behind or can't make the breakthrough, the crowd is likely to be tense. The reaction to the penalty miss against Barnsley was amazing. The one we missed at home against Wednesday led to us falling apart. It's harder to control the emotions in front of a home crowd, but I have every confidence that they will get a win tomorrow, whether that is a scrappy 2-1 win or a 6-0. COYB!

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Bazza8564 added 17:34 - Apr 28 I believe him. Everything he says and does is about keeping himself and players grounded and in the present. He knows what promotion means to us, he also knows it's squarely down to him and his boys to deliver it tomorrow. So if he plays it down, it's because he's not prepared to get carried away and take things for granted. He should be applauded for that. But come 445, or 455 or whatever time we finish tomorrow, then we will see how much it means. After, not before. He knows to blow it from here would be disastrous, and leaving no stone unturned making sure he doesnt trip up is admirable

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:37 - Apr 28 The man is destined for greatness in the football world. Hope it happens with us. I understand things can still go wrong, even though the balance is in our favour. My days of imbibing very excessive amounts of alcohol may be largely over, but if we win tomorrow, I may well get totally p****d.
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therein61 added 17:46 - Apr 28 Kieran has been a breath of fresh air since he walked into the building he knows what he wants for our club(as do we all) and is very grounded and thoughtful before opening his mouth he basically gets the job done quietly on and off the field controlling total respect from all around him he has kept a large squad happy(explaining to the guys who don't get the minutes they want and why) hence our progress what a refreshing change from the hot air take the money merchants(Joe Royle being an exception) we have had to endure watching our club slide further and further. Credit to you K.M and wholehearted thanks. C.O.Y.B

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Daninthecampo added 19:15 - Apr 28 The best line in this story is: I'm humbled and honoured to be the manager of this football club, you could tell at the end of the Barnsley game clapping at 5k fans at the away end that he felt humbled! Let's hope he stays for a very long time
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SuperBlue69 added 22:05 - Apr 28 I believe King Kieran💙💙
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coolcat added 22:47 - Apr 28 Even I felt calm after reading his comments and I've lost a few nights sleep of late, like many others. He's been consistent from the start with the one game at a time approach & reacts in that very casual manner whether we win, lose or draw. He's very astute. I feel we're very lucky to have him.
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cooper4england added 23:28 - Apr 28 Now I've had a few tonight so I'll admit I'm not to sharp but "The time to think about it and answer that question, and I don't want to not answer the question, but the time to answer that is after the game."!!! Being disengenuise...... What a man!
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DocMartyn added 11:02 - Apr 29 @Ipswichbusiness, of COURSE he's been brought in to win promotion. I don't think anyone doubts that. But, rather than being "heroically naive", perhaps those of us with a slightly more nuanced view of things appreciate that what he's talking about, here, is the PROCESS - the focus on the next match, and not allowing players and staff to get ahead of themselves. As I said, this is entirely consistent with every single message that's come out from the players - they obviously buy into it, and it's working. But, according to you, it's just "PR tosh".... <yawn>

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