Speculation regarding Blues boss Kieran McKenna’s future continues with Brighton, Manchester United and Chelsea all reportedly showing interest in the Town manager.

On Saturday, McKenna emerged as the early favourite to succeed Roberto de Zerbi at Brighton and remains the frontrunner in the betting at 6/4 at time of writing.

However, the departing De Zerbi is reported to have recommended fellow Italian and former colleague Francesco Farioli as his successor.

The highly rated Farioli, De Zerbi’s goalkeeper-coach at Benevento and Sassuolo in Italy, is currently boss of Nice and led them to fifth in Ligue 1 this season.

Elsewhere, according to the Evening Standard, Chelsea have sounded out McKenna and Sporting Lisbon boss Ruben Amorim's representatives as potential contingencies should Mauricio Pochettino move on this summer.

The ex-Spurs manager is set to hold talks as part of an end-of-season review in the days to come with his future in question.

The Manchester Evening News claims the Red Devils, who were first linked with McKenna last week, have also spoken to the Blues boss’s people regarding a return to Old Trafford should Erik ten Hag depart in the close season.

Should any of those clubs - or someone else - make a move for the Northern Irishman, it’s reported that the compensation due to Town has increased from £4 million to £6 million following the Blues’ promotion to the Premier League.

Asked about other clubs showing interest in the Northern Irishman by Sky News at the end of last week, 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.”

He added: “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 yet done 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 is expected at Tuesday night’s LMA Awards where he is a strong contender for the Championship honour and perhaps the overall award won by George Burley in 2001.

The Blues boss has already been named the EFL Manager of the Season.

Photo: TWTD

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:52 - May 21 Mariner1974: I get your point earlier and I have to confess I am getting more concerned now after reading the article in the Guardian, which seems to suggest there is clearly strong interest from Brighton in poaching K McK. We don't know what our manager is thinking. As you said, Brighton are further down the line than we are (amazingly, considering they were a tin-pot club not all that long ago). So relegation might not be an issue for them, whereas it will be a big ask to keep ITFC in the PL next season, whoever is in charge. Will K McK embrace the challenge or will he think he's got a better chance to polish his CV by avoiding a demotion somewhere else? I hope it's resolved soon as this can't be good for our planning and recruitment for the forthcoming season.

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JewellintheTown added 09:52 - May 21 Who's to say he's not going to these rumoured clubs to check out what their setup is like rather than intending to take the job. Can't harm to be invited in & have access to behind the scenes info at other rivals clubs he wouldn't normally be able to access. Can only help him plan with us. Not fair to assume he's just going for job interviews to cut and run from us. Might even be Ashtons idea. Both very quiet and shrewd people. Lets give them both the benefit of the doubt. Follow the plan.

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Writtleblue added 09:59 - May 21 Sir Bobby stayed for 13 years until the England job came up, let's hope KM does the same.
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ArmaghBlue added 10:00 - May 21 If he leaves for a club like Brighton then we are better off without him, as it would show his ambitions don’t match the owners.
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OliveR16 added 10:20 - May 21 ArmaghBlue - I agree entirely. Plus it would show his character not to be what we had hoped it would be.
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jpbrooks1 added 10:28 - May 21 Relax. A private jet is scheduled at Shoreham airport (next to BHA training complex) this morning from Nice. Negotiations for de Zerbis replacement.
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Tractorboy58 added 12:20 - May 21 As much as I like McKenna nobody is indispensable, and I am sure that The owners and Mark Ashton will have contingency plans should he leave. The good old days of 'loyalty' in football are long gone. Purely now down to money and contracts
1

grumpyoldman added 13:45 - May 21 Going to Brighton has its pitfalls, they are as people say an established Premier team but have a few past their prime Milner & Wellbeck come to mind, so if he goes there and if all they do is tread water would that be seen as success? Staying with us makes logical sense, there is no pressure on becoming a top 6 team just keep us in there would be considered an achievement!

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Linkboy13 added 13:47 - May 21 Coaches as good as McKenna that are available are very rare especially ones with excellent management skills and the ability to get maximum effort from his players. Not only would the fans be gutted if he departed but every one at the club also. So for some people to suggest that good managers are two a Penny are living in cloud cuckoo land.
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PhuketPete added 13:58 - May 21 He only signed an extended contract last summer and MA has said he obtained crystal clear promises from KM. So the honourable thing for Keiran to do is to honour those commitments and to lay speculation to rest. But even if does so, I fear his lack of candour over the last week has already done a lot damage to both the club and to KMc’s own personal brand. Even if stays now, many people including players we aspire to sign or retain, will now believe it’s just a matter of time before he jumps ship. That’s not going to make it easier to sign new players or bring back the lines of Omari. This may be (but I hope isn’t) a very sad time for Town in that it appears contracts are not worth the paper they’re written on. Worse, that handshakes on promises are meaningless.

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yorkieblue62 added 14:08 - May 21 My first and last comment about all this hysterical speculation which is souring the post season euphoria. I see one article has already mentioned Rob Edwards as a possible replacement. Signing out...back in a months time when hopefully all this drama has subsided and we can concentrate on the transfer market and prep for the new season in the PREMIER LEAGUE.
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Linkboy13 added 16:53 - May 21 The silence is deafening from Portman road never a good sign.
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warno added 17:18 - May 21 I remember Bill McGarry leaving Ipswich for Wolves in 1968 as it was a "bigger club" and the rest is History. Jumping ship is not always the best thing to do especially in shark infested waters!
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grubbyoik added 17:22 - May 21 Unfortunately I think he will go to United.. radio silence from portman rd because united season is not over yet..
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Lightningboy added 17:32 - May 21 Why is nearly everybody bigging Brighton & Hove Albion up so much?!...I just don't get it?...Kieran wanted to manage in the prem eventually - he's there now & probably a couple of years earlier than he expected...why on earth would he take a huge dump on what he's built here over the last 2 and a bit seasons,where his family are settled,great owners,filling a proper old school ground week in week out,adoring fans, a club with a very proud history & hopefully a very bright future etc etc to take a gamble on going to an average prem team? #baffling

3

Tractorog added 18:02 - May 21 Why would anyone join these clubs that will finish in a lower league position than us next year?
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Theipswich added 18:33 - May 21 THE GUARDIAN " Brighton are pushing to complete a deal to appoint Kieran McKenna as Roberto De Zerbi's replacement, but they still face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United for the Northern Irishman." The Gyardian
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Theipswich added 18:34 - May 21 THE GUARDIAN " Brighton are pushing to complete a deal to appoint Kieran McKenna as Roberto De Zerbi's replacement, but they still face competition from Chelsea and Manchester United for the Northern Irishman." The Gyardian
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Len_Brennan added 19:16 - May 21 I do not like the look of that statement from Chelsea, about how they want to appoint a young manager to replace Pochettino. Surely McKemna is too smart to want to work for their ownership, especially with the relationship he has here.
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Portman51 added 19:22 - May 21 The last two seasons have been unbelievable, but they're now history and, as someone else has said, the memories are already being soured by this issue. We are now a well organised and funded club in the Premier League for next season at least. Sorry if I'm old school, but McKenna should either come out and commit to honouring his contract (never mind any laughable release clauses), or state openly that he will be accepting the best alternative offer from another club his representatives can negotiate. Any other stance is disrespectful to the club that gave him his first managerial opportunity and faces a difficult enough close season in preparing for the Prem without a possible wholesale management team change as well.

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SickParrot added 19:34 - May 21 I would be shocked if Kieran left us for Brighton. Although they are an established Premier League side, their financial position requires that they sell their best players. If Kieran stays here for the long term we have the potential to be a much more successful team than them. I would understand if he felt he couldn't turn down the chance to manage Chelsea or Man Utd even though it's probably too soon for him. Hopefully Mark Ashton will be announcing an improved contract for Kieran this week and Kieran will confirm that he will honour that contract.

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SickParrot added 19:41 - May 21 Poch has left Chelsea. Hurry up with that new contract Mr Ashton.
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shortmarine1969 added 19:55 - May 21 Sad to say , but think the club are handling this badley with nothing being said, Just be open , if he is considering options say so.. then fair enough, if not just come out and say it and stop speculation in its tracks..meant to be focused on new season in premier..not if we have a manager staying or not;!
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shortmarine1969 added 19:55 - May 21 Sad to say , but think the club are handling this badley with nothing being said, Just be open , if he is considering options say so.. then fair enough, if not just come out and say it and stop speculation in its tracks..meant to be focused on new season in premier..not if we have a manager staying or not;!
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Writtleblue added 19:59 - May 21 Sir Bobby stayed for 13 years until the England job came up, let's hope KM does the same.
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