Town boss Kieran McKenna’s representatives are reported to have held talks with Manchester United regarding their manager’s job.

According to Sky Sports News, representatives of McKenna met with Red Devils new chief executive Omar Berrada and incoming technical director Jason Wilcox last week to discuss the possibility of the 38-year-old taking over at Old Trafford, where he was a member of the coaching staff under José Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjær and Ralf Rangnick prior to joining the Blues in December 2021.

Erik ten Hag remains manager of United ahead of Saturday’s FA Cup final against Manchester City but with speculation regarding his future having been ongoing for some while, the Red Devils having finished eighth in the Premier League this season.

Mauricio Pochettino is the current favourite to replace him ahead of Thomas Tuchel, then McKenna with Roberto De Zerbi and Gareth Southgate also believed to be candidates should the Red Devils jettison Ten Hag.

Elsewhere, Chelsea, who are similarly understood to have held talks with McKenna’s agents along with Brighton, are, according to talkSPORT ready to ask Leicester for permission to speak to their manager Enzo Maresca, who TWTD reported last night is the West Londoners’ top target.

Fans of neither United nor Chelsea appear particularly keen on McKenna being appointed, largely due to his inexperience.

The Seagulls are understood to remain interested in the Town boss, while Francesco Farioli, recommended to the Sussex club by the exiting De Zerbi, has now joined Ajax from Nice.

Town themselves remain determined to do everything they can to keep McKenna at Portman Road with the offer of new contract seeming inevitable. The Northern Irishman’s current terms, signed last summer, run to June 2027.

Photo: Matchday Images

cressi added 22:01 - May 23 Ipswich business Radcliffe has owned Nice for yrs not done anything in France. And may not at United.
0

hadleighboyblue added 22:05 - May 23 Of course his agents will be doing all they can to generate a move to a big club , all they are interested in is getting themselves a big fat fee . If McKenna thinks it through , he can have a year with us to learn more about the premiership , with no interference . If he jumps too soon to a big club , he will find others will interfere in how things are run and the big egos of the players will be a lot harder to handle . He has plenty of time ahead if him as a top manager , but a year's experience in the premiership with Town before a big move will do him no harm .

7

bobble added 22:06 - May 23 i heard he is running for US president...the bookies have him second favourite behind yogi bear...
1

Karlosfandangal added 22:07 - May 23 Is KmK talking to them or just the agent to help with contract negotiations. Looking a prem managers wages Pep at Man City is reported to be on £20 million a year the highest in the Prem, the average of the sides outside the top 6 is £4million. Town can meet that now surely Are Town waiting to announce his new contract as MA does say when there is something to say we will tell you. One minute I get the feeling he is not going the next he is In MA I trust he will find us a new KmK and would not be surprised if he already has his targets lined up

1

DannyITFC added 22:13 - May 23 Let’s look at the facts - there is no evidence to suggest KMs representatives has had talks with Utd, Chelsea or Brighton just “alleged”. Additionally it would be so risky going to a big club (Chelsea/Utd) knowing failure results in sacking, as for Brighton well you only have to look at the reason why their last manager left to know it would be another huge mistake for KM to go there. He will leave at some point but it’s too early, I just hope he don’t have his head turned by money and glory when the sensible move would be to get Ipswich stable in the prem then move on to a bigger job. Personally I don’t think he will go this season, it’s all rumours.

6

Lightningboy added 22:15 - May 23 Whatever happens from here on in I want somebody who is 100% committed to our club,and not just using us as a stepping stone. He'll never get the love elsewhere from the fans or players that he has here. As the late great Jimmy Greaves once said "it's a funny old game".
10

eddiespearitt03 added 22:19 - May 23 One way or another, this should have been put to bed weeks ago. As others have commented. It's getting silly now. I would have thought he would stay at least one season in the Premiership before moving on. After all, it was Ipswich who gave him his first managerial opportunity. Com on Kieran. Ipswich FC and the Suffolk countryside has to be in your heart .
9

Tractorboy58 added 22:19 - May 23 To be honest I am really angry about all this talk with him and his representatives - no mention of him being a paid employee of ITFC - my club ! If he wants out then he can just get gone and we will be better off without him
6

Karlosfandangal added 22:21 - May 23 He is not the only manager they are looking at so he is one of many plus KmK has a very good relationship with Mark Ashton
4

knitfc78 added 22:35 - May 23 I did not see this chaos coming on that Saturday afternoon when Town beat Huddersfield to win promotion to the Premier League, It's all gone sour, Ipswich Town are bigger than one manager, so I urge Mckenna and Ashton to resolve this immediately.
13

Tractorboy58 added 22:39 - May 23 Nobody is bigger than ITFC - if he wants out then the sooner he goes the better !
5

1960H added 22:44 - May 23 This circus has become very boring and the media are stirring it up to such an extent that the club, the players and the fans are being destabilized, this is no good for anyone. McKenna had done a fantastic job for us in the last couple of years.but no individual is as important as the club itself, In my opinion the club should make a really good offer and give him a couple of days to make a decision, if yes great if no he is out of the door, we find a replacement and move on, this instability is doing no good, plans for next season need to be implemented as there is little time to waste.

9

Phil1969 added 22:48 - May 23 We shouldn’t give a fcuk Club was bigger than one man and will continue to be now Premier. Respect if he moves on but so do we! Just say how it is we all get it.
4

DannyITFC added 22:54 - May 23 It’s time the owners and Mark Ashton took control and discuss with KM for a definitive outcome then release at statement to the clubs loyal fans. All this talk whether it’s nonsense or not is a distraction to our players and any potential targets who may not want to come if KM is no longer here. The club needs to act now and put this to bed one way or another and make an announcement! KM is under contract until 27 so the club would have to agree to let him go, that said there’s no point keeping someone whose heart is not in it. I still say this is just speculation but the club has a responsibility to manage this better than it currently is. Mark Ashton you need to speak up asap.

9

VanDusen added 22:58 - May 23 Guys - let's calm down. If any of us were in the position of having vastly overachieved in our job we woul alld be looking to lever whatever salary increase we could given the windfall you've brought to your employer. It would be mad not to speak to big companies and at least find out what they have to offer. And even if you're not actually that interested in moving it helps make sure you get a decent new contract from your present employer once you have an idea what you're worth on the open market. Everything KMc has demonstrated since being at the club shows he's no mug. Man Utd is his club and he may never get the offer again - he has to speak to them. But I suspect both they and he know it would be a massive gamble at this stage of his career. Either way it forces Ashton's hand to get a well deserved enhanced offer on the table. But if he does move on, then it's really not the end of the world. We are not just our manager - that's just what the media have decided is the easiest way to develop a narrative around us with. We are still in an incredible position compared to where we were 2-3 years ago.

6

Umros added 23:05 - May 23 Thanks for last two years, you had something good here, shame, Naively thought you would give it a go for next season and continue the ride. I was wrong, it’s disappointing having given you the break and chance in management, whilst you don’t owe us, clearly we can’t have meant much ! Money money money, that’s football I guess !
2

Bobbiesboys added 23:23 - May 23 I loved this guy and what he achieved at ITFC. But my opinion of him has now changed, if you want to be at our fantastic club just come out and say so we can get on with preparing for the premier league. If not just go so we can get on with getting someone in who does actually want to be at this fantastic club.
6

PinstripeBlue added 23:54 - May 23 I am proper annoyed at all this. KMcK make a decision please.
1

JewellintheTown added 23:57 - May 23 Representatives talk to representatives all the time, especially at this time of year. How else do these people keep their jobs & make a living? Journalists whip up a storm for a fan feeding frenzy to make a name for themselves & sometimes clubs stir up trouble for tactical reasons to destabilise clubs & push prices up. All normal posturing & not as defeating as some might have you believe. Either way, nothing anyone on here can do about it frustratingly other than wait. Ashton either way will have a plan & knows his stuff. Look what he got with McKenna & how that well researched gamble paid off.

2

bobble added 00:06 - May 24 apparently he is off to cardiff as he was seen in his local supermarket buying leeks..but it could be barcelona as had a nice bottle of spanish red in his trolley too...
5

Westy added 00:44 - May 24 Man U is maybe the one club that KMK may leave Town for, but at the moment it is only speculation. He has strong links there and for all we know his representatives may have said interested for the future but not yet. I think most Town fans would think KMK at Man U some time in the future is more probable than not and his representatives maybe doing nothing more than keeping that door open for future dialogue in years to come and showing due courtesy by speaking to them on his behalf. Imagine if they had shown interest and he had not reciprocated - it could have shut the door for good.Health permitting he has decades left in the game and to keep Ipswich in the Premier League by staying at least one more season would arguably be his greatest achievement so far and I like to think he would want to stay to see how far he could take this journey. If, however, he does leave, I for one. Will wish him all the best but hope for an announcement soon as Town need to prepare if he does go.

2

hyperbrit added 01:15 - May 24 KMK would be well advised to remember the tragic story of Richard Wright who (against Burley's advice) moved prematurely to Arsenal thinking that he was ready to replace Seaman.A couple of mistakes later he was on the bench and remained there as a sub for the rest of his career.
6

armchaircritic59 added 01:56 - May 24 Well, I've heard the rumour KM is being touted as the next Pope! Seriously though if the worst comes to pass, I'll always remember a favourite saying of my late Mothers. " There's as big a fish in the sea, as ever came out ". The trick of course is actually catching it!
0

Tufty added 02:46 - May 24 Remember Frank Lampard, left derby county for Chelsea far too soon. Remind me who does he manage now. Nobody
4

KiwiBlue2 added 03:12 - May 24 Many good points made above. I think that Man U would be the most attractive to KMcK given his background there. However, the new ownership and management is a largely unkown quantity and bound to be looking for immediate results. Accordingly I hope that Kieran stays with us for at least next season while he gets a sighter of the Prem as a manger notwithstanding his time as a first team coach at Man U. The positives with us are good ownership backing and no interference, Mark Ashton, good support staff, a good playing squad that can be further expanded and improved and great fan support. There is also the project that Kieran mentions from time to time the next steps of which should be entrenchment in the Prem and climbing into the top four to get into the Champions League. Given the range of managerial salaries referred to by an earlier poster I would not object if we offered him c10m to keep him here for the foreseeable future by which time we could be competing at the top end of the table. Fingers crossed......

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls