Ipswich Town staff profiles

DIRECTOR OF FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Gary Probert

Nationality: English

Joined in November 2021, when Ipswich were in League One. Heads up recruitment, Academy, analysis and the loans programme. Moved to Ipswich from Bristol City along with CEO Mark Ashton, who had also worked for the Robins. Probert was at Bristol City for eight-and-a-half years in total, mainly as Academy Manager.

MANAGER

Kieran McKenna

Nationality: Northern Ireland

Retired from playing at the age of 22 because of a recurring injury and studied Sport Science at Loughborough University. Then went into coaching, working his way up the ranks at Spurs to U18s boss, before leaving to take up the same role at Manchester United in 2016. Promoted to the first-team coaching staff under Jose Mourinho in 2018 and also worked under Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ralf Rangnick. Joined Ipswich Town in December 2021 when the club were coming off a run of one win in nine and began a remarkable transformation. Club won two consecutive promotions and will now compete in the Premier League for the first time since 2002.

ASSISTANT

Martyn Pert

Nationality: English

Moved from Manchester United to Ipswich with McKenna, having also been on the first-team staff under Solskjaer at Old Trafford. The UEFA Pro Licence holder has a remarkable personal story, having trained as a management consultant before embarking on a global tour in a bid to gain coaching knowledge. Has coached around the world, including at Coventry, Vancouver Whitecaps, Manchester United and the Bahrain national team.

FIRST-TEAM COACH

Lee Grant

Nationality: English

Former keeper has been at Ipswich since May 2022, helping the club to consecutive promotions. His 22-year playing career saw him feature for Manchester United, Derby County, Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley.

FIRST-TEAM COACH

Charlie Turnbull

Nationality: English

Joined Ipswich in December of 2021 after time working at Fulham and Tottenham. Coaches the team as well as focusing on individual development, while co-ordinating with the analysts.

FIRST-TEAM COACH

Sone Aluko

Nationality: Nigerian

Appointed as a first-team coach in July 2024 after three years playing for the club under McKenna (who is three years his senior). Former Reading, Fulham, Hull and Aberdeen forward made seven appearances for the Nigeria national team.

HEAD OF GOALKEEPING

Rene Gilmartin

Nationality: Irish

Former Swindon Town Assistant currently serves as Goalkeeper Coach for Ipswich and the Republic of Ireland. Started coaching in 2021 after retiring from playing with Bristol City.

GOALKEEPER DEVELOPMENT ASSIST

David Martin

Nationality: English

Joined in July 2024 as a player-coach to aid goalkeeper development in the Academy pathway. Also helps with the training, scouting and recruitment of keepers, as well as monitoring those who are on loan at other clubs.

DIRECTOR OF PERFORMANCE

Andy Rolls

Nationality: English

Moved to Ipswich in May 2021, having previously worked with Ashton and Probert at Bristol City. Was a physiotherapist at Watford, West Ham and Arsenal before that. Oversees all the medical, strength and conditioning and sports science functions at the club.

HEAD OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE

Matt Allen

Nationality: English

Worked for Tottenham for 13 years before joining Ipswich in July 2023. Move reunited him with McKenna, with whom he had worked at the Tottenham Academy.

FITNESS COACH

Jon Ashton

Nationality: English

Ex-Premier League player who retired in 2018 and became Stevenage's Fitness Coach soon after. Stayed with the Hertfordshire club for three years before joining Ipswich in May 2021.

HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH

Ivan Mukandi

Nationality: English

Began teaching strength and conditioning at Universities and schools. Broke into football by becoming an Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach at Arsenal in 2014. Spent nearly seven years with the Gunners before moving to Ipswich in June 2021.

SPORTS SCIENTIST

Kit Barnes

Nationality: English

Has a degree in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Bath. Moved into football by becoming Head of Sports Science at Bath City. Then moved to Bristol City, Wales Women and finally Ipswich, in 2022.

HEAD PHYSIO

Matt Byard

Nationality: English

Career started working in hospitals in East Anglia. Began work at Ipswich as a match-day physio in 1996, working his way up to become Head of Medical in 2021.

PHYSIO

Alex Chapman

Nationality: English

Studied at Brunel University and the University of Bath before beginning his career at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. Started as an Academy Physio at Ipswich in 2007, becoming a First Team Physio in 2011.

LEAD PERFORMANCE ANALYST

Will Stephenson

Nationality: English

Has a Masters in Exercise Physiology from Loughborough University. Joined Ipswich in 2016 and moved into his current role in 2021.

ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST

Morgan Howells

Nationality: English

Started as a part-time analyst in the Academy before joining full time in November 2020. Promoted to current role in September 2021.

ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST

Judah Davies

Nationality: English

Was a staff writer and analyst for the tactics website Spielverlagerung and also an Opposition Analyst for Huddersfield Town before joining Ipswich.

ASSISTANT PERFORMANCE ANALYST

Joe Western

Nationality: English

Started as an intern at Ipswich and then joined as a Development Coach in 2016. Moved into analysis with the Academy in 2021 and with the first team from 2023.