Confirmation from Brighton and Hove Albion that manager Roberto De Zerbi will be leaving at the end of the season has renewed speculation linking Kieran McKenna with the Seagulls and the Blues boss has emerged as the bookmakers’ early favourite for the job.

De Zerbi’s exit had been expected with McKenna long having been viewed as among the managers who would be in the Seagulls’ thoughts as his replacement.

At lunchtime, Brighton announced that tomorrow’s game against Manchester United would be De Zerbi’s final match in charge with various sources subsequently reporting that the Town boss will be a leading contender to take over.

Since the announcement, bookies have named McKenna as a 13/8 favourite to become the new manager at the Amex.

Earlier in the week, McKenna was linked with Manchester United, where he was previously U18s coach and on the first-team coaching staff, but with the story appearing little more than speculation.

Previously, McKenna is understood to have been spoken to by Crystal Palace before they appointed Oliver Glasner their new manager in February, while West Ham had also been linked prior to Julen Lopetegui emerging as their successor to David Moyes.

Reports later in the day claim Chelsea are eyeing McKenna with Mauricio Pochettino’s future apparently up in the air.

Asked about other clubs showing interest in the Northern Irishman by Sky News yesterday, Blues CEO Mark Ashton responded: “Those are challenges that success will always bring. I’d certainly rather have the challenges of success than the challenges of failure.

“But Kieran’s been great. He signed a new long-term contract last summer and he’s been in the office, he hasn’t had a day off, he’s been working by my side tirelessly on recruitment and planning and analysis and tactics for next season.”

Asked if there are any plans to add to Portman Road’s statues of managers in McKenna’s honour, Ashton smiled: “Good question. I think if we have a good Premier League season, we better get building now.

“He’s been key to us, not only is his tactical and technical ability quite incredible but his values and the way he treats people and the way we work as a team has been key and I’m sure Kieran will be excited about pitting his wits against the best coaches in the world.”

Quizzed about potential interest from other clubs and whether his job at Town isn’t done for him yet following the 2-0 victory over Huddersfield which secured the Blues’ promotion to the Premier League earlier this month, McKenna said: “No, I love it here, it’s a fantastic club, I’m so proud to be the manager of this football club and I’ve worked so hard at it every day, so I give so much of myself and [so have] the people around me for the last couple of years. I’m just so focused on enjoying that journey.

“That sort of speculation’s been there for the last two years, to be honest, and I’ve shown loyalty to the club through that and I’m really pleased that I’ve stuck with it and achieved what we’ve achieved. There’s some big and exciting steps to come for the football club.”

McKenna, who was spotted at Stansted Airport this morning, is contracted to the Blues until the summer of 2027 with Town previously reported to have included a £4 million release clause in the deal the 38-year-old signed last summer.

Photo: TWTD

trncbluearmy added 19:02 - May 18 no chance, even the Brighton fans think they will struggle to persuade him to leave Ipswich
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Gforce added 19:05 - May 18 It's a fuss about nothing, not a chance of Keiran going there. He's probably just flying off on a top notch scouting miss.
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KMcBlue added 19:15 - May 18 We will be 'bigger' than Brighton within 2 years if he stays
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Sefton_Blue added 19:45 - May 18 Brighton are a good club who are very well run by Tony Bloom and Kieran would be a "typical Brighton" appointment. However, we have a far larger fanbase and therefore far bigger potential than Brighton. As regarding Man Utd etc, now is not the right time for Kieran and I'm sure that he recognises that. I can't see Kieran leaving just yet - and for a few years to come

6

SickParrot added 20:07 - May 18 Kieran will now be linked with most Premier League vacancies and Brighton is probably a good fit for him, but not as good as Ipswich. He has god like status here, the support of great owners and arguably the best CEO in football, so there is no better place for your first season as a Premier League manager. Hopefully Kieran will therefore confirm his commitment to the project here. On the sad day that he does leave us it should be because he can't make us any better and he is therefore moving to a much bigger club.

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chepstowblue added 20:15 - May 18 We may be the bigger club, but they are the more established. And that worries me. However, we have a rare man in the football world. A man with Intelligence, honesty, and moral fibre. In a vile industry, we've unearthed a gem who has bonded with the club. And i believe that will be enough for him to stay for at least this coming season.
5

patrickswell added 20:24 - May 18 These stories are going to run and run. Our trump card is that we are a Premier League team ourselves, so what McKenna would have to weigh up is whether he takes on the challenges of the Premier League next season in an environment that he knows and is central to, or whether he goes somewhere that he has to get up to speed with first.
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TractorfactorSteve added 20:38 - May 18 If he's made an offer his agent can't refuse he'll go. Agents are motivated by just one thing and it's not loyalty.
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ArnieM added 20:51 - May 18 It’s not his bloody agent that has the final say though is it!
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ArmaghBlue added 21:12 - May 18 If he stays, Great!! If he decides to move on, good riddance. Pretty simple really
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martin587 added 21:12 - May 18 ROB EDWARDS
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terryf added 21:33 - May 18 I know it's unsettling but in the words of corporal Jones ''don't panic'. There are certainly more reasons why he would want to stay here than go elsewhere. Can't see him being better off at Brighton and Man U is not right time. He is somewhere where he loves to be. It's his first management gig and he's involved heavily in the journey. At this moment in time and for the foreseeable there is no better place to be. End of!

4

minesapint added 21:54 - May 18 If there's one thing Kieran loves more than football it is surely his family. His kids are settled in school in Ipswich and from what we can deduce his wife is happy in Suffolk. I don't think he'll want to uproot his family just yet. One day he will go on to much greater things but I suspect he feels that he has plenty of unfinished business at Portman Road first.
9

RobsonWark added 22:16 - May 18 Stop all this negativity. He is NOT going anywhere. He loves our club and has a project to complete. End of!
5

foreverthebeat added 22:21 - May 18 Settle down why would KM go his personal job is only part done his CV isn't complete and I believe he can achieve everything thing here then we loose him to England just like the other greats in our past just looking forward to European football again never stop believing. UPPA TOWEN
4

Gforce added 22:44 - May 18 @KMcBlue.........We ARE bigger than Brighton NOW .
4

Rozeeboy74 added 22:53 - May 18 Brighton are not as big a club as we could be. Sideways step at best.
4

bobble added 23:54 - May 18 would he move to a smaller club to help them be successful at this stage ,and miss out on beating man u and liverpool and proving the critics wrong again ?
2

KiwiBlue2 added 00:29 - May 19 Supportive and ambitious owners with significant funds, a great club CEO with whom he has a good relationship, fans who adore him and a decent squad of players which can be added to and developed, and a project which is not complete yet. Why would he leave to go to somewhere like BHA or a similar sized club? In my opinion Man Utd pose a much greater threat to us holding him but we shall have to wait and see. I am expecting him to continue on here for a while yet.

2

Tractor_Boy_in_HK added 05:58 - May 19 Why would he immediately shoot down the rumours? The more that build, the better contract renegotiation he'll get from us. I expect an announcement within a few weeks (no inside knowledge), and we will all be happy.
1

Dissboyitfc added 06:14 - May 19 Lets have a look at why DeZerbi is leaving, he is quoted as saying they dont match his ambitions and he wanted more say in who they sign and who they sell, they are a selling club and Brighton are a club who make lots of money selling players, doesn't sound like a move forward to me as he doesn't have any of those concerns at Ipswich! He is settled here as are his family. He is in the middle of a project here. I think it would demonstrate a lack of ambition and its surely more of a challenge to stay here and work his magic here, in a couple of seasons we could become an established premier league team, we have the capacity for so much more than what Brighton currently are! That wouldn't be a great move for his career, he's a smart and honourable guy, I think he will stay here for now!

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Dissboyitfc added 06:34 - May 19 He will leave one day for bigger and better things when he he has taken us as far as he can and when this happens', he will go with my best wishes, that he needs it of course, if he leaves now it will feel like he has deserted us and I will be unable to wish him well, many of you may disagree with my sentiments, but its how I feel!
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Dissboyitfc added 06:36 - May 19 should say Not that he needs !
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:40 - May 19 Brighton!? I very much doubt it!
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LegendofthePhoenix added 06:44 - May 19 The only way KM leaves us now is if one of the big 6 come in for him. Whilst Chelsea and Man Utd are putting out feelers, they both know it is still too early and too risky for them, they will want to give it a year to see how he does. And KM himself will also know that it is a year (at least) too soon for him - it could end a hugely promising career if he went to say Chelsea and they sacked him after 6 months. So I reckon we have KM for a further year, and that allows him to establish us in the PL, and the big 6 to see what he's got at the top level.

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