Majority shareholder Ed Schwartz has flown over to the UK to hold talks with CEO Mark Ashton and manager Kieran McKenna as the Blues seek to keep the Northern Irishman at Portman Road, TWTD understands.

Over the last few days, McKenna has emerged as a target of Brighton and Hove Albion, Manchester United and Chelsea with his representatives understood to have held talks with all three clubs.

But Town remain hopeful of keeping the man who has guided them to back-to-back promotions at Portman Road for their first Premier League campaign in 22 years.

We understand Schwartz, the CEO of ORG, the US investment firm which manages funds on behalf of the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), the club’s majority owner, flew over from the States earlier this week especially for the talks with Ashton and McKenna.

Schwartz and Blues CEO Ashton were spotted together yesterday at the Salthouse Hotel - and pictured by a fan with those images passed on to TWTD - with the Blues trying to do everything they can to keep McKenna at Portman Road. We understand he is also set to speak to McKenna while in Ipswich.

A new more lucrative extended deal seems certain to be part of the discussions with McKenna already contracted to the club until the summer of 2027.

Photos: TWTD/Contributed

SuffolkPunchFC added 17:09 - May 24 @kizaitfc Oh I agree, it will undoubtedly be discussed at length ;-)
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mrshallisfit added 17:11 - May 24 I think this good news. This hopefully is the meeting where McKenna discusses how much he is being backed and likes what he hears.
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TimmyH added 17:13 - May 24 Everything that is going on currently regarding McKenna is typical Premier League...great on the pitch stinks of it! money money money.
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TimmyH added 17:14 - May 24 'off'
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johnwarksshorts added 17:15 - May 24 I believe this is good news I think he's come over to offer Kieron a shed load of dosh with lots of add ons to stay.
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ArnieM added 17:20 - May 24 I don’t think Kieran McKenna is driven primarily through money. It’s about us competing with massive clubs and Champions League potential. Brighton? Don’t make me laugh. I don’t care how “ established” they might think they are. If McKenna stays we would leapfrog them. It’s whether McKenna feels Town have the potential to reach Champions League. I’ve personally always felt with this ownership, that that is exactly their target , not just PL. McKenna really needs to bide his time and stay and finish the job here. He’ll get all the back he asks for : that will not be the case at any of these three suitors!

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runningout added 17:22 - May 24 slightly embarrassing some of the pandemonium :-)
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Suffolkboy added 17:26 - May 24 It’s difficult to adopt a neutral stance ,for KM from the start has shown us so much that is and can be good about ITFC and our a team ethics . Always destined for great things , I’d guess none would be less than unbelievably proud should he go to Man Utd , though it seems a big jump . The cultures at B&H and Chelsea do not fit in any way with his behavioural characteristics ,nor the ethics by which he conducts his life .It would be extraordinary for C to come into the frame: money will not dictate his decision should he move ,and he’ll be confident of being able to virtually dictate the terms and relationships wherever he eventually goes ! Meantime WE must be patient ; time will tell ,and for sure KM isn’t about to break confidentiality ! COYB

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alfromcol added 17:35 - May 24 McKenna has always stressed the need to stick together on the journey. Hope he doesn't come unstuck!
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gosblue added 17:48 - May 24 What can we offer? Massive bonuses, a long term contract and a statue if we win the FA Cup What can Chelsea and Man U offer? The sack if they finish 5th or win the cup and a copy of the team sheet before each match, although he wouldn’t necessarily need to uproot his family if he gets the Chelsea job.
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Tommy_ITFC added 17:48 - May 24 Schwartz to the rescue
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cat added 17:57 - May 24 Timmy - whatever happened to ambition hey? It ain’t all about money. If a top 6 prem team offered MvK a job he’d be a fool not to take it. It’s pure speculation at this time but remember, if he goes ITFC is still in a great place. There’s so much to be positive about on and off the pitch and it a shame this saga is ruining it for some. Defo not me bud!
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surgery added 17:58 - May 24 gosblue the Chelsea training facility is in Cobham, Surrey which is in excess of 100 miles from Ipswich. A lovely daily commute via A12 / M25
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NorthLondonBlue2 added 18:26 - May 24 Let’s say McKenna had been unimpressed by the draft transfer budget and his proposed bonus or raise for getting us into the PL. What better leverage could he have than openly entertaining the idea of joining Chelsea, Man Utd or Brighton? It’s public knowledge what they have spent in recent seasons and how much they are likely to spend moving forward. If the funds and/or salary on offer for McKenna was in his view too little, he has every chance of getting the maximum possible now. That would include the likely purchase price of Hutchinson, too.

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jonju11 added 18:35 - May 24 With all things considered, here is a young ambitious Manager Who has worked a “miracle” @ Portman Road. He will go at some time over the next year or so to fuel his ambition & we can’t stand in his way. My only criticism is the statement that he has a “release” clause of £4m. If another Club wants him whilst still under contract, then let’s make that £10m so that we can recruit another Coach on decent Money & Premiership experience. Let’s hope he stays for one more season.

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MJallday added 18:45 - May 24 If he goes to Chelsea he’s mad If he goes to Man Utd he will be given a season and expected to finish top 4 or, FO If he goes to Brighton he will be asked to do what he’s done with Ipswich with a bunch of players he doesn’t know and no time to do it If he finishes 7th with us he’d get a statue and a stand named after him If he finishes 7th with MU or chelski , he’d get fired If he stays with us, we’d probably give him a couple of seasons even if we got relegated With that in mind, this shouldn’t be a hard decision

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Bazza8564 added 18:50 - May 24 Well you can't change the release clause that was in his contract. I remain convinced he will stay, why is MA meeting in a public place for all to see when he has an office a half mile away? 90% of me thinks this is a very well orchestrated information and misinformation piece designed to get the investors to give him a bigger contract and a bigger transfer budget. But at the same time, and I am talking theoretically until im proved wrong, if KM wants away and contractually he is able to do that then let him go, tip your cap to him and move on. There is no such thing as a rear view mirror in football, and if we face the PL season without him then so be it. Let's just trust Mark to get it sorted, we can have the inquest after the death.

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therein61 added 18:55 - May 24 I really hope he stays as he has said himself it's a project which he appeared to want to be part of i cannot see his head being turned by Mr 10% he seems well grounded and sensible and look at the fact that we gave him the opportunity he wanted(clever work from Ashton who's to say he hasn't sounded out a future gem!??) and he has done a brilliant job on a personal level if he stays and consolidates us in the prem then so many doors will be open to him home and abroad whatever happens we are the Town and we will always have our great club that we support through thick and thin!! C.O.Y.B.

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DinDjarin added 18:57 - May 24 Its not about the money with McKenna we all know that. It will be how much backing and funding will he get to make us competitive as we all know he is a winner and wants to be given the tools to do his job to the best he can. If it means we get a big war chest to go and get quality players in to be able to compete and stay up then maybe McKenna has played this perfectly.

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Gazelle added 18:59 - May 24 I’m old fashioned and I’ve always been led to believe that a contract is a contract and should be honoured in full by both sides.
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thatsbonkers added 19:05 - May 24 We all love McKenna and hope he continues to do great things for us. But he is not bigger than the club, we are now in the Premier League on merit. I personally believe we can do great things with or without him.
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Dissboyitfc added 19:16 - May 24 jonju I think I am right in saying the release clause is 6 million a figure that increased from 4 with promotion. I am sure a new reviewed contract will have a bigger release clause. Just needs sorting one way or the other!
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thevoiceofreason added 19:20 - May 24 This is all just a load of media b0ll0cks. As many have advised, relax and wait for sanity to prevail. I found Simon Jordan’s comments reasonably sensible.
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Portman51 added 19:21 - May 24 Gazelle - I totally agree with you, but in football a contract with a buyout clause is really no contract at all.
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Marcus added 19:39 - May 24 "The Schwartz is strong in this one" - Thank you, father, thank you "Bless"
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