Premier League Crystal Palace are reported to have been thwarted in an attempt to lure Town boss Kieran McKenna to Selhurst Park.

The Eagles, 15th in the top flight, are known to be long-time admirers of the Blues boss and, according to The Guardian, chairman Steve Parish has now spoken to McKenna’s representatives regarding the manager’s job at Palace.

However, it’s understood the 37-year-old isn’t willing to consider leaving Portman Road while the Blues are challenging for promotion to the Premier League, but with Palace said to be hopeful that he could take over at Selhurst Park at the end of the season.

The Northern Irishman, who took charge at Portman Road in December 2021, signed a new contract with Town which runs to the summer of 2027 in June last year and it’s believed any club looking to take him from Portman Road would be required to pay very significant compensation, as much as £4 million according to previous reports.

The Eagles still have Roy Hodgson in charge but their recent form - they’ve won two in 13 in the league - has led to continuing speculation that a change will be made with McKenna one bookmaker’s 7-4-on favourite to succeed the former England boss.

McKenna, who has also been mentioned in connection with the West Ham manager’s job, was quizzed on the Palace interest at last week’s press conference and insisted his concentration was on Town alone.

“My full focus, full commitment is with Ipswich and the season that we’re having and the next game ahead, so that’s where all my energy is and all my commitment is,” he said.

“I don’t pay any attention to it, to be honest. It’s not the first time in the last couple of years. If you’re doing well, it’s going to be there and there are going to be links.

“And football can work the other way pretty quickly as well. I’ll just focus on the day-to-day work here.

“As I’ve said before, I’m very proud and honoured to manage this football club and I’m enjoying doing so and will continue to do the best I can.”

Photo: Matchday Images

Kilterums added 17:21 - Feb 13 I can see a good fit with Brighton and Hove Albion if that opportunity comes up. If he leaves, then there are much greater things to be concerned about in life! Hope he stays though.
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cressi added 17:28 - Feb 13 Although if we fail to go up and McKenna leaves disappointed yes gutted no as will happen if he does well I would rather have our new owners backing and Ashton to make wise decisions regards a manager. As supporters most of us will still be here when he leaves.
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FreddySteady added 17:28 - Feb 13 He’s currently flavour of the month but if we fall off the pace , will he still be?
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Bert added 17:38 - Feb 13 KMcK has a wise head on him so whatever he decides he will think it through. He has moulded a group of players here who are loyal and give their all producing results that none of us really expected. At some point he will swap that for a bigger challenge but in my opinion that is not now or next season. After that is a different proposition.
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strikalite added 17:39 - Feb 13 ^^Freddy, yes because he has a lot of credit in the bank for what he's done here, now if he goes to Palace on the other hand.........
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MK1 added 17:42 - Feb 13 So glad he turned them down. I wouldn't have blamed him for going in to a mid table Premier League club as a stepping stone to the Man Utd job. If they come back in the summer and we are in the Championship, reckon he would find it very hard to turn down. Everybody in the ground from here on in needs to sing his name and let him know just how much we love him. He will leave sometime, just glad it isn't now.

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Broadbent23 added 17:51 - Feb 13 KMc will have a large bonus written into his contract for getting us promoted. This £4m is an embarrassing amount. CP go and get Steve Cooper. With a record of not giving managers a fair time to create success. No one wants your manager's job. You need a OAP. Try Jose Moreneo (who needs a job).
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RegencyBlue added 18:01 - Feb 13 £4 million is probably the amount which activates a release clause in his current contract. I imagine it was the highest amount we could get agreement on for him to sign it. If he ultimately wants to leave then so be it, no point in keeping a manager, player or anyone else who has their head turned. Ashton will no doubt have contingency plans and names in mind if necessary, how many of us had heard of McKenna before his appointment? Hope he stays and sees the project through but it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t. No one is bigger than the Club.

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pennblue added 18:17 - Feb 13 If Palace are in the premier league or drop down to the Championship, they would have a much bigger budget compared to us. That means you can buy better quality players and have a better chance of being successful. The question McKenna needs to ask himself is would he be better off building some experience with us first. Gradually building something with is over a 5 year period. For me, this is the safest option. With 5 years under his belt, he would then jump straight to a top job. If he goes to Palace (or West Ham), he will likely be struggling as he can still never compete with the top teams. The reason Brighton are doing well and competing is they have built over many years. It is much easier to get yourself in the manager graveyard than it is to build a 20 year managerial career, and there are lot of things he would have to learn to deal with (dealing with premier league players for starters). If he goes up with us he takes 'his team, his squad' with him, that are all bought into him. That is a massive help.

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raycrawfordswig added 18:30 - Feb 13 The Guardian is not a news paper it’s poor quality toilet paper.
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IvorFeeling added 18:36 - Feb 13 Just like with Brandon there is more to this story than is stated here. We can thank MA for keeping him here, for now at least. The reality is that if we don't go up this year, it is likely that he will have a pick of positions in the PL.
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Billericay12 added 18:38 - Feb 13 I was never concerned he might go to Palace. Realistically what chance of success there ? I would be more concerned if West Ham came sniffing around. A full 60000 seater stadium every week with the promise of a decent budget may appeal. Not too far from his current home either. My hope is he stays and continues to bring success to us and we can fulfill his ambition to manage Ipswich in the Premier League. If he achieves that understandably he will then be looking at the next step.

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Reality_2021 added 18:39 - Feb 13 Comments from some people always make me laugh. Fair play they are your opinion and they are yours to give. Calling Crystal Palace a small club? We have just rejoined the Championship after being originally stuck in it for 20 years. What happened a good nearly 40 odd years ago (major trophy) oh and is being in the Premiership 20 odd years ago does not make us a big club anymore. Time to get back to the present. McKenna would probably fit Crystal Palace very well and would be silly to turn it down in the summer if offered. This could be a 1 season wonder for us for a few years as ffp will hinder us if we don’t go up this season. So come the end of the season lot could well be us still in the Championship and McKenna off to the Premiership.

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NorthLondonBlue2 added 18:59 - Feb 13 What an attractive proposition! “Leave that Championship team and come to us in the Premier League!” 3 months later …. “Oh, so we’ve been relegated and your old team have been promoted but, Crystal Palace, eh?! Can’t beat Sarf London! Wayhay!” He’d be mad to do it now, whatever the money they’re offering. Of course, if we don’t go up this season, then all bets on KM leaving would be off.Even so, I highly doubt CP would be his preferred choice, for lots of reasons.

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Crawfordsboot added 19:06 - Feb 13 I agree Reality - At the moment we are punching way above our weight. If KM pulls off the miracle and we get promoted few of the current squad will survive the step up and he’ll have a major building job to do. If we don’t make it he’ll still need to rebuild, particularly at the back, if we are to challenge again next season. Add in the reality of what he would earn in the Prem, and what it would represent for his family, and I could not begrudge him a move if that were to be his choice. He has done wonders for our club and I shall be forever grateful whatever happens at the end of this season. So all in all I’m guessing that at the end of the season if we are not promoted he will move on to a new challenge.

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bobble added 19:14 - Feb 13 palaces 2 wins out of 13 is not much different to ours..
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blueboy1981 added 19:16 - Feb 13 Why do people take such speculation so seriously ? - most of which is just that. McKenna still has it all to prove to be honest, and thus to attract serious interest from any higher level Club. What will be, will be in this Game, Managers and Players come and go like Day and Night - and Fans / Supporters thoughts and views are irrelevant in that. No need for Hissy Fits Folks - it will make no difference at all.

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RobsonWark added 19:20 - Feb 13 Kieran's not going anywhere. He has a great project and is totally backed by Mark Ashton and the owners. Look at all the money they are spending off the field and investing in the club. He will stay until he feels he can not take us any further. I'm sure he will get another new contract with a massive increase in wages if he gets us promoted. Why risk being out of a job in 6 months for a few extra quid at a struggling Premier League club? He is mature enough to realise it's not all about money. He is not a young footballer who can easily be swayed by unscrupulous agents promising him riches beyond his wildest dreams.

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bluesince76 added 19:23 - Feb 13 Can't see mc Kenna being lured away from ipswich with the backing we've got unless a club like man utd were to come after him he can achieve everything right here.
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KMcBlue added 19:36 - Feb 13 If he played McKenna ball at Palace he'd be hammered every week
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Hatman2 added 19:42 - Feb 13 KMc would be selling himself massively short going to Palace
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SickParrot added 19:59 - Feb 13 Kieran is known to be a first class coach and has made a great start to his managerial career, so it's no surprise that Premier League clubs are already after him. However, I would be surprised and disappointed if he left us this summer. He has only been a manager for just over two years and is still learning his craft. He knows that he is an integral part of the project that attracted him to join Gamechanger and Mark Ashton, and I believe that he now has genuine affection for the club aswell. I hope that he will therefore want to stay here until he has taken us as far as he can, before moving on. If he can establish us as a Premier League club the really big clubs may then want him.

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barrystedmunds added 20:22 - Feb 13 I’m not sure, like us, KMcK expected us to be having the season we are currently experiencing. To my mind he was always here for the longer term as part of implementing his plan, but exactly how long is anyone’s guess. Regardless of promotion or not. I would expect him to be with us into next season while acknowledging you can rule nothing in or out.
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brittaniaman added 20:39 - Feb 13 10 MILL. WOULD BE A MORE REALISTIC FIGURE FOR HIM !!!!!!
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Dissboyitfc added 20:46 - Feb 13 I do know this much the club would not stand in his way if a big club came in for him! but they are realistically hoping to get a good few seasons from him yet! As i already said he is not ready for a top club and a top club is not going to want him yet! He has lots to do before one of those moves become a reality! If he leaves us before acheiving anything and he flops, his future stock with surely suffer, however if he stays with us and achieves great things he will able to flop and his stock will remain intact! There is not one good reason why he would leaves us atm, he will become the man u manager one day but that's not yet, he is very young and learning his trade!

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