Kieran McKenna's emotional farewell message to new Cobblers signing
‘He’s just a great guy, a positive energy, a great vibe all the time.’
The esteem in which new Cobblers signing Janoi Donacien was held at Ipswich Town is no better summed up than by the glowing tribute paid by then-manager Kieran McKenna when he departed the club in January 2025.
The 32-year-old defender, who can play across the back-line, has this week joined Northampton, penning a one-year deal, and he clearly has many admirers in the game, particularly from his time at Ipswich.
Donacien played over 120 times for the club between 2018 and 2025, and this is what McKenna said when he left 18 months ago...
"Janoi said his goodbyes in here yesterday, to the group and to the staff. It was quite emotional, really, because he’s a fantastic person. He’s loved by everyone here and loved by the supporters as well.
“He’s a brilliant story at the club, he sort of summarises the highs and the lows, from arriving and then having a really difficult first season. The resilience that he’s shown then, in the more resilient times at the club, to be out on loan twice but to keep coming back and giving his best. To come full circle and get back into the team pretty regularly before I arrived. Then he played, of course, in my first game, and had a massive part in the promotion from League One.
“He had a big part to play in the squad last year and started the season really well at right-back. Then unfortunately had injuries last season, so wasn’t able to play as much as we would’ve liked, but he had a massive part to play behind the scenes.
“He’s just a great guy, a positive energy, a great vibe all the time. He was really good in the dressing room and has written his place in the history of the football club, like so many others in that group.
“He had his operation in the summer, which thankfully fixed the issue that he missed last season with. He’s been in a pretty good position health wise this season and has trained with us for the last few months. Apart from one or two little minor side issues, his fitness has been great and he’s looked good in training. He’s just really keen to go out and get some games now.
“He’ll be sorely missed around the building, but he also leaves with great fondness, great memories, having had a big part to play in the club. I know for a fact that, like so many others in the group that he’s been with, he’ll always be welcome at the club in the years to come.”