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

spanishblue added 15:54 - Dec 16 Warnock just another dinosaur in the MM mound Harris no thanks, there's a few 30 odds managing nowadays,wonder who will be the assistant???
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Monkey_Blue added 15:54 - Dec 16 He'll get my support until and if he shows me he doesn't deserve it. I guess with these kind Of appointments you have no idea how good or bad they will be. Cook had a good record but if he was a top manager he'd have been in the higher leagues before his mid 50's…. If this guy wins games he's the right man for the job.
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GavITFC added 15:56 - Dec 16 Get magic in as your number 2 and you get my vote. None of us were happy with the names being bandied about so we've got to give this guy a chance. Completely clean slate and should hopefully be able to analyse games and make adjustments rather than persist with the same formation/tactics every single game.
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itfcasual added 15:57 - Dec 16 Preferable to Lampard, Terry, Warnock, Harris blah blah blah... Young but experienced with a demanding club. As others have siad, no baggage to carry. He will want to make a success of it. He will be motivated. Plus he will have been trained in up to date coaching methods. If the players don't respect the manager, any manager, get rid. If he comes and bombs out, get rid. This is a gamble I would take at this point in time. No more long ball, can't change my system dinosaurs please. Still not convinced that the new players aren't rubbish though.

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Europablue added 16:00 - Dec 16 I'm definitely going to get right behind him if he is appointed. I don't have much of an opinion of him considering that I've never heard of him. Clearly he is a very highly rated prospect. The only thing I don't like about him is that he's younger than me!
2

Bluesky added 16:02 - Dec 16 I'm not sure he has the grit needed to handle our lot but if it is him - let's get behind him.
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Europablue added 16:02 - Dec 16 School teacher delivery is a bit of a weird criticism. I just want a manager not to speak utter nonsense or lies in his interviews and not be on the defensive all the time.
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dugoutdave added 16:03 - Dec 16 Id rather this appointment than all the others supposedly in the running. Given the transfer window coming up maybe his connections with MU could result in some fringe players joining
7

daniellay19 added 16:03 - Dec 16 Along with Magic Jim Magilton as assistant manager 👀
1

cat added 16:05 - Dec 16 If he plays the right way then he'll get my support and patience. This goes against the blue print of the previous managers C.V's so it'll be interesting to see what happens if nothing else.
4

mathiemagic added 16:05 - Dec 16 I am so glad that they did not just pick one manager off the "Out of work bandwagon" . Seems that due diligence has been done and have picked a hot prospect hungry for success. Will give it his all as its his first management job and he would not be expensive to get rid of should it fail. Plenty of contacts at Spurs and Man Utd, could bode well for loan signings. Win win for me. Will be fully backing the bloke. #COYB

7

TotalBlue added 16:09 - Dec 16 Sounds interesting talks a good game but proof is in the pudding. COYB
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fizzyblue added 16:09 - Dec 16 He sounds as dull as dishwater which i thinks going to work against him when he tries to motivator the most bone idol bunch of players we have evner had on the history of ITFC. You dont need a tactical genius at this level just someone with half a brain that can organize and get the best out of players. But what do I know!!! Good luck to him if he gets it…. He will need it that's for sure…

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OldFart71 added 16:09 - Dec 16 Well apparently not everyone was thrilled to bits with Sir Bobby's coaching and technical stuff before a match and look what he achieved. Give the guy a fair crack of the whip and see where it takes us. Like the song "The only way is up" Hopefully.
3

jas0999 added 16:11 - Dec 16 Incredibly risky. It may work out. With this bunch of players, personally feel we need someone with experience. Good luck to him though.
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bixleyboy added 16:14 - Dec 16 Good luck Kieran, your gonna need it.
0

BeattiesBackPocket added 16:15 - Dec 16 Some fans on here make me laugh this guys a gamble because he's no experience as a manager which I kind of agree with but then we take people on with experience of getting a couple of promotions give them a new team and only three months and people want them out. The club, owners and Ashton cannot win either way. Granted not the most overwhelming appointment however he has a pedigree and worked his way up with big clubs so can handle the pressure at Ipswich. Some fans need to make their minds up experience which we had with lambert and cook or try something different. Either way we need to get behind whoever it is and give them longer than THREE months this time with HIS team. We don't have the divine right to top the league as much as we all want it but it concerns me some of the fans we have now appear to not give people enough time Burley took 5 years to get us promoted SOME of our fans now would've never stood for that and we'd have had no Inter Milan, 5th place finish etc same with Robson and john Lyall

4

Smithy63 added 16:15 - Dec 16 who is he not even heard of him board are going for youth but hasn't a proven track record except youth sides hope he can sort this lot of crap of players we have here that is if he is taken on
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 16:17 - Dec 16 Good, no hanging around, he can get straight at it. Let us hope that K McK is the new Sir Bobby, a young coach given a chance by owners who have a long term plan. We will have a good idea by the end of the season.
4

IpswichT62OldBoy added 16:18 - Dec 16 I am interested to see who he brings with him.
2

Stato added 16:19 - Dec 16 I hope Ashton has heard these rumours about some Man U players not liking him because we really don't need another Paul Hurst scenario especially as all those who wanted Cook to be given lots more time will no doubt be calling for McKenna to have even more time which is never gonna make any difference if the players don't like him. Does sound like a massive gamble and one which could backfire on Ashton for a lack of due diligence.

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runningout added 16:19 - Dec 16 Not sure why some of you need to admit you haven't heard of him. Hope he isn't another “Must interview well” appointment
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Smithy63 added 16:19 - Dec 16 l'm not convinced so l am still not going to support the club with this sham of a board are here as they have no clue same as the team last night 60 years of supporting the blues but last night was the final straw
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budgieplucker added 16:21 - Dec 16 Martyn Pert is being reported as coming with him. Ex-Norwich, moved to Cardiff with Malky McKay and then left of his own accord after McKay got sacked. Comes from this area. Did good things in managing Vancouver in the MLS. Speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently , had a brief spell in Latin America. Worked with Bielsa. ….likes signing players from South America as he feels they are best suited to his technical, possession based style. 44 years old and currently on the Manchester United coaching staff

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Monkey_Blue added 16:21 - Dec 16 It's been Sid we were looking for more of a Head Coach appointment. Looking at his CV he has more first team coaching experience than Roberts, Craney and Jeffers put together. Be interesting to see his backroom team is and if a director of football is installed.
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