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

bobble added 07:19 - May 20 brighton should go for the dark lord, i hear he is available....mick mcCarthy is another great manager who would do wonders at brighton...
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:38 - May 20 There is a decent chance we will finish above Brighton next season, I think 9th is achievable and in my most optimistic frame of mind 5th. He will stay until we are in Europe or get stuck in mid table 3 seasons in.
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Bluroo added 09:17 - May 20 When we were promoted to the Champ, McKenna signed an improved contract with a £4m release clause. Hopefully Ashton will get the same done again this summer, with a big Premier League salary bump and massive release clause.
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bobble added 09:41 - May 20 dont see why we cant win the 1st next year with the right purchases and having the best manager...
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:47 - May 20 with Chelsea now thinking about it too , cant see us being able to keep him at town ,wish it would be shut down its spoiling the promotion feeling .
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Lightningboy added 10:21 - May 20 I wish they'd remove this from the top of the page tbh. May aswell pin a message at the top saying "McKenna bookies favourite for every job that comes up". It's not news,just speculation & sh1t stirring...twtd should be above all that.
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OldFart71 added 11:04 - May 20 4 million clause ? to us he's worth ten times that. Where on earth would we get a manager so adored by fans, loved by players and so highly regarded by the clubs owners and CEO. Yes McKenna is destined for greatness, but Brighton ? I don't think so. The only time I could see him switching to any Premier League club is under two circumstance 1) That Town get relegated at the end of next season 2) If Chelsea or Man Utd wanted him.

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BlueSwede added 11:54 - May 20 The keyword is in the first paragraph: "renewed speculation". Will probably be linked with every job available this summer while building a competative team at Portman Raod in the meantime.
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fifeblue added 12:02 - May 20 Chelsea is never going to be a good move for somebody like Kieran McKenna. The jobspan of a Chelsea manager is no more than 2 years. It is becoming similar with Manchester United. What would you want; a career and project with long-term prospects and a settled and happy family? Or short-term gains with the danger of having to move every two years between clubs and locations, or even countries? That is the basic choice he will have at any point he leaves Ipswich Town, unless he eventually becomes the England coach which is not beyond the realms of possibility.

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martin587 added 12:05 - May 20 As I’ve already said in my earlier post it may be only speculation but it must be unsettling for the players and the big question is will it deter any future big signings when the transfer window opens.Personally I doubt very much he will leave until he has had a good crack at the challenge ahead in the premiership.Let’s just hope I’m right.
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jon_talbot56 added 13:33 - May 20 Would be very surprised if he goes but Potter or Cooper would be good replacements. Potter built what de Zerbi has used (less successfully) and Cooper had an impossible job at Forest. TBH I wonder about Brighton. If l was them, I would not want someone who has never managed at the highest level. Adkins, who got Saints into the PL with successive promotions never managed the big time

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Alphawhiskey added 14:45 - May 20 We could do with a club statement to quash these rumours....
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Ebantiass added 16:31 - May 21 Just about everyone and their cat is coming in for the gaffa, but i just cant see it happening this close season. After a great season in the prem (which would lets face it) be top 8-10 then maybe that could entice on of the big 6-8 clubs to take a punt . This close season hes going nowhere CHILL everybody.
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