Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has conceded that he was ‘disappointed’ to lose Cameron Burgess during the summer.
Having joined the Tractor Boys in 2021 from Accrington Stanley, Burgess went on to be a key member of the Ipswich side that achieved back-to-back promotions from League One up to the Premier League.
However, following relegation from the top flight and with his contract expiring at the end of last season, the defender rejected the offer to extend his stay at Portman Road and instead moved to this weekend’s opponents Swansea City on a free transfer.
Cameron Burgess left Ipswich Town during the summer. Picture: Barry Goodwin
The 30-year-old, who will be hoping to feature at next year’s World Cup with Australia, has played in all 14 of the Swans’ Championships fixtures this term – and McKenna is unsurprised that he has become such an influential figure in south Wales.
The Town boss said: “No surprise and from his point of view, it’s good to see him getting those minutes.
“He’s been playing well. I’ve seen plenty of their games in prep for this and also a few in the cup run as well.
“It’ll be good to see him on Saturday, good to catch up with him after the game, hopefully at the end of a positive result from our point of view.
“Cam was a free agent, he was out of contract, so he was right to look at what’s best for his future as well. It’s obvious the things most players want, lots of playing time and to do as well financially as possible.
“He’s played good minutes here and he weighed up all his options and Swansea, I guess, was the offer that gave the best of those two in terms of playing minutes and I’m sure a good contract.
“Disappointed to lose him, he certainly has always been and would have been a strong addition to our group.
“But players are within their rights to make those decisions and as much as we’re disappointed to lose him, we all wished him well.
“And he’s come a really good way in his career over the last few years and genuinely I think we all hope that he has some good years ahead.”
