Manchester United first-team coach Kieran McKenna has emerged as the frontrunner for the Town manager’s job and could be appointed before the end of the week, TWTD understands.

Speculation that McKenna was in the running for the job emerged yesterday with TWTD sources as well as those of other media confirming that the 35-year-old Northern Irishman is in talks.

While we understand the deal is currently not completed, Town may be in a position to make the announcement as soon as tomorrow.

County Fermanagh-born McKenna was a young player with Spurs - during Blues academy coach Bryan Klug’s time at White Hart Lane - but his career was ended by a hip injury before he had made a senior appearance, although he had won seven Northern Ireland caps at U21 level.

McKenna began his career in coaching with Spurs and in 2015 began running their U18s team having worked with younger sides.

In 2016 he moved on to Manchester United where he again worked with their U18s, winning U18 Premier League North in 2017/18.

Jose Mourinho made him an assistant manager in December 2018 and McKenna remained on Ole Gunnar Solskjær's coaching team after Mourinho’s departure along with Michael Carrick and continues to be a member of the staff.

Last month, it was reported that some Manchester United players were unhappy that McKenna was kept on following Solskjær's departure having found him "dry and school-teacherly in his delivery".

If the move goes through, as is expected to be the case, the one-time Enniskillen Town United and Ballinamallard United player will become Town's second Northern Irish manager following Jim Magilton.

Photo: Reuters

budgieplucker added 15:28 - Dec 16 I have to say there is a lot about this appointment that concerns me. More than a tactical genius at this level with a school teacher type approach we need a man manager and super motivator. Plus it's easy to get seduced by the Man Utd tag, look what we thought we were getting when we signed Lee Martin? Karanka was Mourinho's assistant at Real Madrid, but I wouldn't want him anywhere near Ipswich Town (just see what they thought of him at Forest and Middlesbrough) Nevertheless, I will give the guy a chance and wholeheartedly support him willingly wanting to be proved wrong.

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EssexTractor added 15:30 - Dec 16 This has come as a complete shock but presumably with good third party recommendations for a 35 year old. All of the names bandied about never got 100% approval from the fans so this unlikely choice may just be the right man choice.no real baggage ..good or bad. Start here and move forward
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jabberjackson added 15:31 - Dec 16 Looks like he's highly rated by Nicky Butt. There will be another announcement alongside this. A Director of Football role. Might be ok this... "Kieran McKenna is a coach who came from Tottenham. He was a breath of fresh air, a very good coach. He's on it. He didn't get to the top of football [as a player] so his next thing was, 'I'm going to be the very best coach I can be.' He's very, very, very good.

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ThaiBlue added 15:33 - Dec 16 Probably end up with paul mckenna
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DMDC added 15:33 - Dec 16 A coach who isnt much older than the players ? Not sure there will be much respect there. By all accounts not liked by Man Us players. Never managed a first team game,part of a 3 man coaching team at Old Trafford. Cant get excited by this at all. We needed someone in who can ruffle a few feathers like Harris or Warnock. This really smacks of desperation and a Mr Brent appointment. The players are weak minded, cant see this guy getting a reaction.

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slade1 added 15:33 - Dec 16 Yes bring him in but with Warnock alongside him to assist
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martin587 added 15:34 - Dec 16 If the reports are correct then let's give the man a chance and full support.Let's be honest we need a coach at the moment as it cannot be any worse than the drone that left with PC. Remember we all have to start somewhere and if true he gets my full support.
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KernewekBlue added 15:37 - Dec 16 Have noticed him sometimes in the background at Man Utd's televised matches, urging the team on or berating the officials and never really paid him more than a fleeting glance... it never even crossed my mind he could be up for the Town hot seat. 35 seems a bit youthful in head coach terms and one wonders what respect he could immediately command from the players around him, given that they're so close in age. No first-team playing experience in the English leagues also indicates what a gamble this could be. In his favour, he has obviously worked with some good coaches who have rated his ability and given him responsibility within their set-ups. If it is to be him who is charged with taking this team forward, let's do the decent thing as fans of this club and give him some time to settle in, get to know the players at his disposal and implement his playing philosophy on the pitch. It's sometimes the way that the most surprising choices turn out to be the ones that work best, a serendipitous stroke of pure luck, astounding genius... let's hope this is one of those occasions. He must be fairly well known to MA and the board to be seen as the new front runner and he must have impressed them with his CV and the way he's conducted himself at interview. That, or he's seen as a gamble worth taking a risk on for the rest of this season and then see how it goes. God knows we could all do with a bit of respite from the doom and gloom surrounding this club for the past 15 years.

6

Bazza8564 added 15:39 - Dec 16 OMG I cant believe the negativity of you lot ! This is a fabulous appointment, one of the best and brightest young coaches in the game and you want a 73 year old or Harris, two blokes that have a CV of also rans. You want the club back in te higher echelons then you have to get a guys from that environment. Mourinho went to Chelsea and people laughed. No so now.... Thankfully, the ITFC threads on FB are all alive with this and 100% positive excitement all around.

21

wewerefamous added 15:39 - Dec 16 Blimey, didn't see that one coming. If he's the new “chosen one”, let's get behind him and the team… whoever comes in is going to need our full support. COYB
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davidsc1971 added 15:40 - Dec 16 We need to do our part and back the new manager, the owners and the team. If the Special One rates him then he's good enough for me. OK, sod the team. But the owners and the new manager absolutely yes. COYB
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BangaloreBlues added 15:41 - Dec 16 @ TractorCam I said the appointment could turn into another Paul Hurst, I never said Hurst never had any managerial experience. Use your brain sometimes.
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essextractorboy93 added 15:43 - Dec 16 Exciting new young coach! Worked with some top managers.
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barrystedmunds added 15:44 - Dec 16 Risky, to say the least. I assumed that our American friends demanded promotion this season so expected a “signature” appointment which this clearly wouldn't be. If it goes a head, I for one won't be expecting anything but another season in this shi5 hole division! But saying that, I have been known to be wrong before…….
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CookAshtonJohnson added 15:44 - Dec 16 Another note to add on - in 1969, we appointed a 36 year old manager who had only won 6 games out of 36 with Fulham and had just been relegated. We gave him a chance and the owners backed him as well. That man was Bobby Robson, who later went on to become one of football's greatest ever managers. Let's give McKenna the support he needs and finish this season as positively as we can!

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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:44 - Dec 16 School teacheresque sounds exactly what we need the way this lot have been recently
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DMDC added 15:45 - Dec 16 The players are weak minded,they need a strong character,this guy isnt any older than they are.They wont give him much respect.
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BurleysGloryDays added 15:45 - Dec 16 Maybe with a dynamic motivating number 2 it'll work. What choice do we have. Here's hoping...
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newlurker added 15:45 - Dec 16 He's good at using an iPad
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Lightningboy added 15:49 - Dec 16 Fairly underwhelming tbh & a massive gamble. There's hardly anyone we've been linked with that i'd be that over the moon about. This could be a fantastic appointment / could be terrible - as we all know - only time will tell. Something needs to change in our player's mentality - let's hope this guy can do that.
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ringwoodblue added 15:49 - Dec 16 Don't understand the negativity about this guy already. Why not just welcome him, give him a chance and most importantly GET BEHIND him. Even the best have to start their management career somewhere and he has been around successful managers and coaches for many years so he is an excellent prospect. Plus his name is not Paul and he has no links with the scum. What's not to like!

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norfolkbluey added 15:49 - Dec 16 Well things can't get much worse than happened last night can they? Or can they? I am at a loss now to how this club is going but we have to keep hoping. Good luck to him. Hate to think what he has to do to make our club turn around. COYB
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docsavage52 added 15:51 - Dec 16 Well he is a unknown quantity, coming into a under preforming squad. We are where we are in the league as that's what we deserve. We may HAVE been a large club along time ago, but no really decent manger is coming here at moment and have their reputation destroyed.
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barrystedmunds added 15:51 - Dec 16 He's not called “Paul” or a Scouser which is a positive!!!
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planetblue_2011 added 15:52 - Dec 16 Who the fuk is he?🤷‍♂️
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