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

algarvefan added 18:20 - May 22 Sorry guys and I know I'll get marked down for saying this, if he isn't going anywhere and wants to stay why isn't he just saying so, this isn't just about the KM but the team too, I know most players would be gutted if he left us and the start of such a big season would be thrown into terminal chaos. If he goes, regardless of money or club he will lose my respect and in my opinion would be an idiot to go to any of those clubs who just want instant success. He could well find himself out of work by the end of next season with his career damaged. I have just heard town have offered KM a 5 million a year contract for the next 5 years to keep him at the club, so now we will see, I do not think we will do well if Mckenna goes regardless of who takes over. I am worried by this and McKenna could end the speculation with a quick statement saying he is flattered but will stay for at least another season. He's going if the terms are right and Ipswich can do b all about it.

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GoingUp added 18:34 - May 22 He'll always wonder what if if he goes now... stay please, surely it's a shot to nothing!
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Northstandveteran added 18:42 - May 22 It depends on whether our owners ambition matches our managers.
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FreddySteady added 18:53 - May 22 Latest news on BBC website says he’s “likely to reject a new contract “ Apparently he and Martin Pert feel it is the right time to move on. Meh.
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Texastom added 18:55 - May 22 Algavefan spot on. As soon as I read McKennas comments/answers I thought he’s not committed. Big mistake not staying for x 1 year in Prem as unfinished business. ITFC AND fans deserve that! Trouble is he might as well go now otherwise it’s Klopp all over again and the players won’t play for someone who’s quitting.
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GoingUp added 18:58 - May 22 BBC speculation, here he has a free hit our ambition is lofty and tempting loftier ambition levels at any other club will not guarantee success. ITFC are giants on the up!
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Monkey_Blue added 19:21 - May 22 The problem is that if he stays the speculation wont go away. I’m not sure we can replace him with someone as good but this speculation is destroying any advantage we had from going up automatically and any reputation he has attracting players. I would love him to stay and commit but it’s almost worse if this drags on and even if he stays every job that comes up leads to this circus…this needs sorting quickly for the good of the club and I’m sure McKenna would recognise this.

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Skip73 added 19:31 - May 22 Pims. He was 4/6 on Skybet
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TimmyH added 19:38 - May 22 Kept talking about what the club had done and stating there was always going to be speculation without saying anything completely convincing that he would be staying - an open door I would say currently, I too would be very disappointed if he went, particularly to Chelsea whom I can't stand!
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62WasBest added 19:45 - May 22 Could be that by not committing at this stage he is keeping his options open but maybe he is just putting a little bit more pressure on the owners to ensure they find the funds to get in the necessary players. It doesn't sound like Keiron's MO but we can only hope.
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surgery added 19:49 - May 22 Hasn’t all this just soured what happened a few weeks ago Why the hell have the club/McKenna not come out with a statement one way or another I know there’re not obliged to but me thinks there’re not doing themselves any favours with the fans
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BurleysGloryDays added 19:53 - May 22 Don’t do it KmK! Those other clubs aren’t going anywhere, cement a historic legacy at this famous old club, you’ll be in good company…
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Texastom added 19:58 - May 22 Club need to make a statement. We need long term stability…….
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BlueWax added 20:01 - May 22 I know MA has recently said to avoid any speculation regarding our club but I can now only see KM going very soon. He has been outstanding for us and I along with the vast majority of the blue army would be gutted. He has so many brilliant attributes and every Town player has bought into his ideas along with the owners and MA. If he does go, I don't for one minute think that he would be supported like he has been here. When we needed the players Kmck had targeted, he was backed. Many owners now identify the players that they want! Much of me now wishes that Leeds hadn't fell apart! Whatever happens though, thank you Boss, you have been amazing for the Tractor Boys. X

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Monkey_Blue added 21:04 - May 22 Sky Sports are reporting that Chelsea want to talk to Maresca.
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Normandyblue added 21:38 - May 22 Next Prime Minister odds: Sir Keir Starmer 1/8 Kieran McKenna 6/1 Penny Mordaunt 13/2 Kemi Badenoch 20/1 Oliver Dowden 20/1 Nigel Farage 25/1 Andy Burnham 33/1 David Cameron 33/1 Suella Braverman 33/1 Angela Rayner 40/1
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RobsonWark added 22:30 - May 22 Kieran is not going anywhere. He LOVES it here in Ipswich. It is his club. If anything he is doing a Wayne Rooney (when he was seen with a Spanish-English dictionary in his hand to get a better deal from Man Utd. Could you really see Rooney learning Spanish?). He wants to leave a legacy at Ipswich and he has not yet completed his work here. I said when he came that he was on the same path as Sir Alf Ramsey. Same age, same promotions and now for the Premier League.

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eddiespearitt03 added 22:50 - May 22 The only thing I would say to Keiran is that happiness is far more rewarding than money . He has plenty of time to join the "big time" managerial merry-go-round. Sometimes it's better to know than to speculate what you don't know. If he thinks he is ready for the leap to deal with high profile players and their ego,s , so be it. Will it be enjoyable ? He knows he.s at a great club in a nice area of the UK.

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Westy added 22:53 - May 22 Hope I'm wrong but the longer this goes on the more likely it is he will go. His choice of words seems to imply that as well.
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bobble added 23:06 - May 22 you are not competing against really great managers in the 1st division you are competing against huge money from arab sheiks who have stolen their nations resource money to invest silly money in their plaything overseas football teams.........if you truly want to test yourself as a manager you need to playing against teams with the same funding as you like other sports do...

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nevergoblue added 23:32 - May 22 I'm desperate for us to keep KM, but it is looking increasing likely he may be off. The thing I find strange is that Chelsea seem to be favorites. Out of them, Man U and Brighton, I think Chelsea would be bottom of the list, the managers seem to have little control on transfers but suffer the consequences when it goes wrong. I get that he is a Man U fan, so fair enough, Brighton are pretty well established in the Prem and well run, but Chelsea are a basket case, he will be lucky to last a season. Best stick with us I think!

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ImAbeliever added 07:51 - May 23 I believe this could go either way.
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Texastom added 09:32 - May 23 If he sticks what’s the point he’s made his intentions obvious he doesn’t want to be at ITFC. Get shot of him now it’s unsettling
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elycea added 13:17 - May 23 Started at Man Utd, supported Man Utd. Man Utd are a well-funded massively underperforming team and need someone with Kieran's ability to turn a poor team into a great one. As amazing as keeping us in the Premier League next year would be as an achievement, it wouldn't rival winning the league with Man Utd in a year or two and realistically he will never achieve that with Ipswich. I hope he wouldn't choose Chelsea or Brighton over us but if Man Utd call I really wouldn't blame him for leaving.

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Cervantes added 17:04 - May 23 I think if we get some good early business one in the transfer window, we'll have a good chance of keeping him. I'd hate to see him go but it's MA and the ownership group who are equally important. It looks like we'll have them in place for the next five years, at the least. I think KMc will relish the challenge of taking Ipswich in to the Premier League. Unless we absolutely stink the place out, his stock won't fall and I'm sure he'll have a bevvy of suitors after him for some considerable time.

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