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

Saxonblue74 added 16:28 - Dec 16 Well that's me in s**t Street. Put everything I own on Harris on the 100% inside info from Tellitasitis!!🤣🤣 I know nothing about this Mckenna fella but what I do know is he needs our support.
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1psw1ch added 16:29 - Dec 16 can't be as bad as what we've had for years,,,,, he'll have Ronaldo with us for the start of next season 🤩
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TheMover added 16:29 - Dec 16 I have no previous knowledge of K McK, like probably 95% of us. The rumour is that Man U players don't like him, I love these rumours that always surface in the comments within 10 minutes, are there any clubs in the UK that someone doesn't have a direct line of contact with? I bet if Pep was linked there would be an issue for some of our 'fans'. The article says that he is the front runner not that he has been appointed. If it is true, every manager has to start somewhere, lets hope that this is the launch pad for the next great manager. The true test will be on who he can get to join him

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BlueRuin69 added 16:30 - Dec 16 Smithy63 and yet your still interested enough to comment on here 🤔. It's a shame but already fans have turned against players, we need to get behind new manager. Seems like a decent choice to me. Coyb
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Henrietta_R_Hippo added 16:31 - Dec 16 Is it April 1st already? --- Or does the owners simply just not grasp the seriousness of their moribund team & recurringly couldn't-be bothered-to-turn-up personnel situation here? (Oh and I for one have never ever giving much if any credence, in the World of football that is, on how other CUTE ex-colleagues & bromantics quote "up-rate" or blue stamp a former bro of theirs! Seriously though , If Gamechanger are dead set about wanna "game change" things (i.e. to the desperately needed much much **tuffer** for the abundance of super abject so called professional employers here) by going all-in on somebody with ehmm ZERO ZILCH ZIP ZIPPO NADA NIL NOUGHT NIX managerial experience ???!!! ... Well excuse me American bravados but why not then be even braver and pick a woman? I can see lots of truly good reasons for this ...including of course smaller things like appeasing the Political Correcties out there in these hmmm luvly renaissance Girl-Power & Mee-Too movements day & ages. Alas personally I would luv to see JOANNA LUMLEY here.... ..she could be sooo kick-a$$ tuff as Town's brand new Noooo-prior-experience manager! :-) :-)

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miltonsnephew added 16:33 - Dec 16 Wonder what plays he maybe able to sign from united. 👍🏻🤘🏻
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Saxonblue74 added 16:33 - Dec 16 Man U players don't like him? That's because they all have enormous egos and don't like being told what to do by a 35 year old! I say that must make him a strong character at 35.
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Europablue added 16:34 - Dec 16 We could be getting in on the ground floor of a manager who could be very successful. If he can get us out of this league he deserves to better himself at another club or even get us to the promised land.
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Europablue added 16:36 - Dec 16 I understand that some people are pretty upset about the cup loss to Barrow, but why would that make you want to give up on the club that you supported for decades? Let's all just get behind the new man and see where that takes us!
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barryblue added 16:37 - Dec 16 if it is to be him then certainly no worse than all the other names flying about, but he will need to be more than just a good coach, he will need to be a great tactician and motivator to get anything from this shower. He also will need the right man by his side, as we have seen from both cook and lambert they are not the same manager without agood number 2. so I say good luck to him cos he is going to need it

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ChrisR added 16:37 - Dec 16 Sir Bobby was not the world's best coach or tactician , but was a great man and team manager and motivator . I'm not so sure the present bunch need yet more coaching , more needing a kick up the b side , which may not be KM s strength , maybe he will have a No 2 to do that , much like B R and B F ??
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Linkboy13 added 16:38 - Dec 16 What manager is the ideal fit for Ipswich Town let's be honest no one knows. The one thing that needs to improve is player recruitment. Just because he might not be my choice doesn't mean i won't be backing him.
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budgieplucker added 16:38 - Dec 16 I have to say from my earlier post I had reservations, but I think Pert coming with him as his assistant as reported makes this an interesting combination, a no 2 that has been assistant manager in the championship and managed Vancouver in the MLS as well as doing a stint in Latin America backs him up with a significant and wide range of experience which makes me feel much more comfortable about the appointment

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Batman1957 added 16:39 - Dec 16 Bazza8564 is spot on. If true this would be a fantastic appoitment. Yes there is a risk but what have we got to lose? An excellent no nonsense coach highly thought of who wants now to make his mark/way into management who will undoubtedly be supported by our owners in January? Potentially keeps our season alive - will bring on some of our academy players as well? Some of the old pro 's knowing its time to step up or be shipped out and let's be honest after last night we probably thought that applies to all of them - Walton exempt In place on Saturday - 28,000 ex Sunderland supporters cheering the team on I say bring it on

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budgieplucker added 16:40 - Dec 16 ….and please let's not hold the budgie connection against Pert.
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chappie added 16:50 - Dec 16 What a complete breath of fresh air this would be. "No managerial experience" I hear some of you say. Well he's very highly rated by some of the best in this sport that we're not doing very well at, so maybe we should shut up and listen to them. He's been working day in day out with global superstar footballers so if he can handle those prima donnas then I'm confident he can handle ours. Swiping aside someone's 'teacherly' flippant remark, which is all the media have grabbed hold of, he sounds like he's got a better grasp of tactics and modern day coaching than our last 5 or 6 'experienced' managers added together. Of course its a gamble, but you can bet your bottom dollar that Ashton et al will have researched him to death before giving him the role, so don't lets start to think we know better. Come on and get behind your team and (hopefully) new manager. he just might be the guy to take us to our promised land.... COYB

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johnwarksshorts added 16:50 - Dec 16 If it happens just get behind him and all give our support. He must have some very useful connections in the game having been at Man U and could bring in some good additions in Jan transfer window and get rid of some who aren't good enough.
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wewerefamous added 16:50 - Dec 16 Sorry Batman1957… fat finger syndrome voted down by mistake. Totally agree with your comment
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budgieplucker added 16:54 - Dec 16 an interesting article on Pert https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/14693894/man-utd-coach-martyn-pert-shaquille-onea
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grumpyoldman added 16:55 - Dec 16 P Cook history of getting teams promoted, P Jewell history of getting teams promoted, M McCarthy history of getting teams promoted, R Keane history of getting team promoted, P Lambert history of getting team promoted, all failed here!!! All those complaining try to remember past experience is no guarantee of success. If it is him give him a chance.
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:55 - Dec 16 cant be him , Tellitasitis says he is 100% sure its the ex Cardiff /Millwall man , he is in the know. got mates on the inside , sorry Tellitasitis , think you might be looking a bit of a PLUM by the weekend .LOL,
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multiplescoregasms added 16:57 - Dec 16 If we get this guy and he comes in and p*sses a few people off, so be it. The players, for whatever reason, have not given the impression that they either care or want to be here. If that's the case, come in and kick a few people about. Maybe that's what is needed. Whoever comes in needs to be tough on some of these players, and if they don't like it, bye bye.

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Suffolkboy added 16:59 - Dec 16 Very very interesting ,and very very positive if it comes off ! A comparatively young man , knows the game ,coaching ,tactics ,strategy and ,I submit, man management having been given the seal of approval by and at really large clubs ! He will knock discipline and pride into some of our sloppy non- contributors and given a budget ,should be able to utilise contacts to attract some individuals to show up and expose the frail attitude of many who currently pull on the shirt ! I very very much look forward to this prospect and guess he's also intelligent and articulate ! COYB

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abandon_hope1978 added 17:00 - Dec 16 Doesn't matter who he is. No disrespect but probably won't make a difference. The players are simply not good enough to implement any playing philosophy or show the necessary dedication or effort required.
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bringmeaKuqi added 17:01 - Dec 16 What we are in desperate need of is some really good coaching. The defensive errors we make every game are a result of a lack of coaching and players being poorly set up. The advantage KM has over managers with more experience is that he will have had some of the best coaching training going. If we can poach him and a couple of other Man United first team coaches — well, I think we're onto a winner. Two or three really skilled coaches are needed to drill some shape into this team. It will be night and day from the team of Gary Roberts and a kit man. Remember we also have KD and JM in the background offering some Ipswich inside knowledge. And as others have said, I would welcome Jim back as an advisor, even if only temporary. I don't think we need him as a permanent assistant.

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