Boss Kieran McKenna now looks set to stay at Town and sign a new long-term contract.

Since the Blues confirmed promotion to the Premier League, the Town manager has been the subject of speculation regarding his future with Brighton initially looking his likely destination before Chelsea and Manchester United also held talks with his representatives.

As reported on Saturday, Chelsea are now looking elsewhere with former Seagulls boss Roberto de Zerbi the favourite to take over at Stamford Bridge, while the Red Devils are set to hold an end-of-season review which mean their management situation - with Erik ten Hag currently still in charge - not likely to be settled for a little while yet.

Brighton have remained keen on the Blues boss but told him towards the end of last week that they weren’t prepared to wait indefinitely for him to commit to a move to Sussex.

Meanwhile, the Blues have pulled out all the stops to try to keep the Northern Irishman at Portman Road with TWTD revealing on Friday that Ed 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, had flown over from the States to hold talks with CEO Mark Ashton and McKenna.

The offer of a new more lucrative extended contract was expected to be made as Town sought to keep McKenna, whose current terms run to the summer of 2027, for their first Premier League season in 22 years.

The Blues’ entreaties appear to have done the trick with the Blues boss understood to be ready to commit to staying at Portman Road, although with nothing yet signed.

Confirmation of that new deal will be gleefully celebrated by Town fans, who for the last few days have feared losing the man who has taken them to back-to-back promotions and into the top flight for the first time in a generation.

Photo: Matchday Images

The_Snake added 17:24 - May 27 Can we get the bus back out for another lap?
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PortmanTerrorist added 17:24 - May 27 I don't think this rules out Man Utd if they ever come calling, even if it is next week, but nothing else really made sense other than that or staying for me. Obviously hope this is true, and for those who have (unlike our Club) not been able to keep their counsel and made some daft comments regarding Keiran's loyalty in the past days, I hope you can now see that was an unnecessary over-reaction. Let's get back on the bus and behind Keiran and the Team....they will need us more than ever if/when the going gets tough next season !

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BlueWax added 17:26 - May 27 Just going to wash and iron my 'we've got super Kieran Mckenna ' t shirt. Fantastic news....please nobody think anything less of him over the uncertainty...if anything let's false the atmosphere up even more. COYB
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BlueWax added 17:26 - May 27 Just going to wash and iron my 'we've got super Kieran Mckenna ' t shirt. Fantastic news....please nobody think anything less of him over the uncertainty...if anything let's false the atmosphere up even more. COYB
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BlueWax added 17:26 - May 27 Just going to wash and iron my 'we've got super Kieran Mckenna ' t shirt. Fantastic news....please nobody think anything less of him over the uncertainty...if anything let's false the atmosphere up even more. COYB
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BlueWax added 17:26 - May 27 Just going to wash and iron my 'we've got super Kieran Mckenna ' t shirt. Fantastic news....please nobody think anything less of him over the uncertainty...if anything let's false the atmosphere up even more. COYB
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E_I_E_I_E_I_O added 17:26 - May 27 This article is wrong. It is Enzo Maresca now likely for the Chelsea job and not De Zerbi.
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Josh271092 added 17:27 - May 27 YESSSSSSSSSSSS - Confirmed by Ornstein
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BontyBlue added 17:28 - May 27 New contract terms for Kieran & Martyn plus clarification of the war chest for new signings. Just what the team needs to compete in the Premiership. Celebratory jaffa cakes on the go.. COYB
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BlueWax added 17:29 - May 27 Raise
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:29 - May 27 If true, we'll have to amend the song just a little: "We've still got super Kieran Mckenna ... ." Luckily, it still fits the metre.
5

Texastom added 17:35 - May 27 A lot of ugly people out there including BBC should hang their heads in shame, embarrassing. Remember TalkSport saying Lambert had left Norwich once totally untrue journalism. Right decision all round. Well done ITFC.
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 17:35 - May 27 I think the club have managed this very well, no one ever believes denials anyway but the fact is they only speak when they have something to say, respect.
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BurleysGloryDays added 17:38 - May 27 YEEEESSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!
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marinermyhero added 17:44 - May 27 Oh God we will have to go through this palaver every year lol
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mickcosh added 17:46 - May 27 Great news best club for him at this time. Mid table this and see wear we go from there.i hope he’s got the owners to guarantee Hutchinson joins us as well before you committed to signing
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TimmyH added 17:47 - May 27 Made up if this is true!...like signing a couple of decent players, as for the media they'll soon forget about McK now he's staying at a lowly club such as the 'Tractor Boys' ...all they're interested in is the Man U's Man City's Liverpool's Arsenal's and Chelsea's of this world.
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Jcb2007 added 17:47 - May 27 Happy bank holiday, I'm away in Yorkshire, lots of Leeds fans looking p1ssed off. That drubbing away seems an age ago now.
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CaseyJones added 17:47 - May 27 As crowded house sang “ Everywhere you go , always take McKenna with you “
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ArnieM added 17:48 - May 27 Brighton said “ they weren’t prepared to wait any longer”…. So does this mean KM was considering going to them then? Or playing the clubs off one another?
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ArnieM added 17:49 - May 27 Ps btw for the record. I’m absolutely euphoric that he’s staying. I’ve Bern feeling sick all week thst he might go.
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wewerefamous added 17:51 - May 27 Now for Omari please.
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TractorBoySince93 added 17:53 - May 27 I am so relieved to read this I really did fear the worse! I can imagine there is going to be a certain few that may give him a poor reception due to the last week of speculation without any answer not only that but the uncertainty to his commitment and loyalty for the future.
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VanDusen added 17:55 - May 27 Remember people - there should be no cloud over Kieran at all. I was always confident this was about forcing the Yanks a well deserved new contract that shows his worth. Anyone else remember when Rooney did the same to Man Utd a few years ago? What this has shown is get used to the sort of media crap we're now going to have to put up with ad infinitum for at least the next year. We're not used to it - but no need to over-react.

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Flight_of_Shefki added 17:55 - May 27 I was prepared to whether the storm whatever his decision. The fact that the club are now in this position is testament to KMcK's and the boards hard work over the last few years. I'm delighted that he's staying - but some fans need to give their heads a wobble over how they've conducted themselves online over the last week or so - cringeworthy. No man or position within the club is bigger than the club itself. Up The Towen.

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