Ipswich Town captain Sam Morsy says the club's players are "thankful" manager Kieran McKenna will lead the club in the Premier League next season.
McKenna, 38, has overseen an incredible rise with back-to-back promotions, with the Suffolk club set to play top-flight football next season for the first time in 22 years.
The Northern Irishman was linked with the Chelsea job last month, but instead signed a new four-year deal at Portman Road.
“It is really important to keep him," Morsy told BBC Sport.
"It was well publicised he could have gone to some big clubs, but he has made history here anyway.