Town boss Kieran McKenna says speculation regarding his future was always going to come following the success of the last two seasons.

McKenna, speaking having been named the LMA’s Manager of the Year and Championship Manager of the Year, was quizzed on the interest from Brighton & Hove Albion as well as links with Chelsea and Manchester United.

“Look, the club has had such a positive season and has such a bright future ahead,” he told Sky Sports. “We’ve achieved so much, it’s been an incredible two years.

“And when you have those two years there always comes speculation and things like that, there’s been that every summer.

“I know how much everyone is looking forward to the season, the club is in a fantastic path and everyone is just really looking forward to the season ahead.”

Asked whether it would be difficult to turn down offers from those clubs should they come, McKenna responded: “Again, when you do well as a manager, or as a player, there’s always going to be speculation.

“I know what we have achieved is not an ordinary thing, so there’s always going to be speculation.

“But that’s not where my focus is tonight, it’s about what we’ve achieved last season, what we’ve achieved over the last couple of seasons, not just myself but everyone at the football club.

“It’s been a wonderful couple of years and tonight’s about celebrating that. I know everyone’s looking forward to next season and I know the club’s going to be in a really, really good place going into that season.”

Earlier, accepting the evening’s main honour, the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy, from the legendary former Manchester United boss, McKenna said: “It's incredible. Sir Alex Ferguson has been such a great part of my childhood growing up and my love for football, and for the game, has involved him - he's an inspiration.

“It's been a great journey. I'm two and a half years into a management career, but it's been 16 years of working incredibly hard every day pretty much to be the best coach I can be.

“It's the best thing in the world and I've had good experience as a first-team coach, but to be a manager in the Premier League and go up against great managers is going to be a great challenge and something I can't wait for. This award is one of the most humbling and proudest moments of my life.”

Ferguson, an ‍LMA executive committee member, added: “I extend my congratulations to Kieran McKenna on winning the LMA Manager of the Year award after a memorable season with Ipswich Town.

“He is an incredible young talent who had a great reputation when he was on the coaching staff at Manchester United.

“Kieran is humble and carries tremendous composure, as well as great technical and tactical insight and awareness – all the hallmarks to become a top manager at the very highest level.”

Outgoing LMA chair Howard Wilkinson said: “A huge well done to Kieran McKenna for becoming the winner of the LMA Manager of the Year for the first time.

“To be promoted once at any level is commendable, but to achieve the feat back-to-back is an incredible achievement and demonstrates his undoubted ability as one of the youngest and most exciting managers in the domestic game.

“Kieran has been recognised by his peers for leading Ipswich to the highest level of English football for the first time in over 20-years and is hugely deserving of this honour.”

A Town boss has won Manager of the Year once before, George Burley in the summer of 2001 after the Blues finished fifth in the Premier League in their first season following promotion.

Photo: LMA

IpswichT62OldBoy added 13:51 - May 22 "It's the best thing in the world and I've had good experience as a first-team coach, but to be a manager in the Premier League and go up against great managers is going to be a great challenge and something I can't wait for." .......with a team he has created and crafted, in his style over two and a half seasons.....he would be mad to go, look at what he is on the verge of achieving at a Club that is doing all of the right things and has the full support of hands -off owners. I am very relaxed that he is not going anywhere in the next 12 months, at very least.

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Robert_Garrett added 14:06 - May 22 Make a difference
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Skip73 added 14:23 - May 22 Oh for the good old days of McCarthy and Lambert when nobody tried to poach our manager.....
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 14:27 - May 22 Alfie: I agree with you. This is the most worrying part of the interview: "I know everyone’s looking forward to next season and I know the club’s going to be in a really, really good place going into that season.” That could easily be interpreted as a farewell. It could perhaps also be interpreted to include Kieran himself, but I wish he'd said "we are going to be."

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paris_mitchell_in_oz added 14:51 - May 22 OK. I get it. The gaffer doesn't want to feed into any speculation about his immediate future. I personally don't believe for one moment that he will leave us in the summer. Why would he, other than for money? But i gotta say, it sure would be nice if he put all of our anxieties about him moving on to bed.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 15:04 - May 22 Latest report ("THE 72") is that Town are offering K McK £5m a year for four years. Currently reported to be on £1.2m. So if true, this might do the trick! Positive move from the Town.
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atty added 15:35 - May 22 Let’s face it folks, the Premiership is where the money is, for players, managers and coaches. Even the bit part clubs get a very substantial increase in income. The “big” clubs are ina league of their own, with the odd unexpected interloper now and again. By big l mean Man U, Man City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Villa, Arsenal, Spurs, Chelsea and West Ham. The rest of us might like to think we are big, and there are endless arguments about that. So, get into the PL, stay up and get the dosh, Fantastic. But don’t kid yourselves about your role in it as supporting cast.

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BlueSkies added 16:16 - May 22 I do fear the worst to be honest but I hope I'm wrong. Is it really that hard for him to say he's staying?
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NottsTractor added 16:20 - May 22 I really would like him to stay so much, but I will wish him well whatever his decision. He has given me and my family a fantastic couple of seasons after such a terrible 20 odd years. From my perspective he owes us nothing and I will forever be indebted to him for such a great journey to where we are now.
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SickParrot added 16:33 - May 22 BBC now reporting that Kieran will be offered a lucrative new contract to stay here next week but that they understand he will refuse to sign it because he feels it is the right time to move on.
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blues1 added 16:36 - May 22 Marshall mullett. He didn't dodge the question at all. Simply said his focus isnt on that. And why would it be? He was at an event to pick up his deserved awards. He isn't gonna say he's staying or he's going in that environment. Not the time or the place
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fifeblue added 16:47 - May 22 https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3ggpj1j4y7o "BBC Sport understands ..." What a load of mischievious nonsense.
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Burley4ever added 16:48 - May 22 SickParrot Just heard BBC report saying he doesn't want a new contract YET. I still think he will stay but once he knows how things progress next season then he will make a decision!!!
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Tractorboy58 added 16:52 - May 22 To be honest if he has been offred £4million and still decides to go then better he goes - this is our club and I have seen many come and go over the last 30+ years - nobody is indispensable
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Len_Brennan added 17:09 - May 22 “But that’s not where my focus is TONIGHT ... I know the club’s going to be in a really, really good place going into that season.” He does speak in a removed way about the club for next season, & only says his focus wasn't on possible opportunities elsewhere Last Night, suggesting that it could be his focus from today, so there is genuine concern being expressed by genuine fans here. I can't see an intelligent guy like McKenna wanting to work for an interfering owner like Chelsea's, regardless of the salary; and I think money is not his priority anyway, as he'll have decades ahead on big contracts. Brighton is interesting though, as the structure is similar to what we have, except they are established in the league, have some great players & excellent scouting networks already in place. I would have thought it was too early for him to go to Man Utd too, but maybe that's not so unlikely either, with Ten Hag probably getting the boot post Wembley. There's a big job there that needs to be done, a forward thinking job, sorting out the culture of the club etc., & that needs to be done by a guy like McKenna. Some of the Galacticos may not have respected him when he was there 3 years ago, but now he would be coming back as the hottest managerial property in English football, if not beyond. And he is unique in terms of his top level experience as a senior coach alongside Mourinho, Ragenick & Solsjkaer, so he's not going to be intimidated. He would have the belief & backing of the board & is now a globally recognised figure as a winner, with the Alex Ferguson award for Manager of the Year on his desk. It would take take him a couple of years to clear out the infection that is there, but he could do it & maybe the new investors there know that. I really hope he doesn't go, but I don't believe it's just a bigger salary he is after.

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PimsNumber1 added 17:31 - May 22 6/4 for Brighton fav 4/1 Chelsea second fav to de zerbi at 7/2
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oldelsworthyfan added 17:39 - May 22 He would be daft to leave us now. McKenna is not daft.
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Len_Brennan added 17:41 - May 22 He's in from 12/1 to 6/1, since lunchtime, to be the new Manchester United manager, and they don't even have a vacancy there yet.
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OldFart71 added 17:46 - May 22 What I hope for is that all this speculation doesn't upset plans for next season. The sooner the situation is resolved one way or the other the better. Personally McKenna is the best thing that's happened to Town since Sir Bobby and that's no slight on Jim or George who were/are legends as far as ITFC is concerned and I will be very sad to see McKenna go, if he does, as he could take us a long, long way and whilst we know it's going to be tough to stay in the Prem we have at the moment the very best people in charge.

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Skip73 added 17:47 - May 22 Pims, he was 4/6 for Brighton yesteday so the odds are getting longer
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SickParrot added 17:58 - May 22 Burley4ever Thanks for that update. It's not what BBC Sport are still saying but hopefully what you heard is correct. If so, Kieran is not accepting a pay rise in case he wants to go in 12 months time. That would be more like the Kieran we know and love.
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PimsNumber1 added 18:00 - May 22 Skip the side kick of de zerbi was 7/4 mck 2/1 yesterday and the Italian has drifted to 10/1 ....mc k never odds on ..check oddschecker
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kevinwilsons_tache added 18:03 - May 22 Sounds very much like a man with a lot of leverage trying to negotiate a much better contract (which is fair enough). I hope...
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OliveR16 added 18:08 - May 22 I'd be more surprised, now, to see him still at Ipswich than to see him at ManU. Ratcliffe wants a new start, McKenna is both that and yet also a part of the furniture there. The fans will give him more time than almost any other potential young recruit, and it will be like coming home for him. The style he brings is exactly what ManU want. Bluntly, I think its a no-brainer for him and them. We're waiting for the Cup final to be over.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 18:15 - May 22 So, presumably his current contract is still running with bonus clauses no doubt triggered. Therefore s not the current upcoming negotiation around next seasons performance bonuses ? Something for staying up and a statue if we get into Champions League etc.
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