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

floridaboy added 17:56 - May 27 If its true then great news! I think the majority would be a lot happier if he came out in the press and gave a statement stating he is staying, signing a new long term deal and works for the up coming season starts now! Come on lets hear it from the horses mouth!!
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dieselmorris added 18:01 - May 27 only italians jump ship.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:05 - May 27 Announce its signed and I'll breathe
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surgery added 18:06 - May 27 Or trip and fall into a lifeboat
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Ryorry added 18:09 - May 27 I know it's not customary to kiss the messenger, but I'm going to make an exception in this case, with a virtual one for Phil x
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backwaywhen added 18:11 - May 27 Perublue …cum-eth the hour cum-eth the man ….wink wink .
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Karlosfandangal added 18:11 - May 27 Bitter sweet for me, feel a little let down in the sense of someone who want to see the job out but was ready to leave. We have all taken him to our hearts but we are not in his. Bobby Robson turn Barcelona down 3 time to stay at Town. So if Town do stay in the Prem we will have to go all though this at the end of the season and if relegated he will be off as the contract mean nothing as there will be clauses to release him Signed a contract when he joined got a new contract last season and now a new one. Could always swap him for Ten Haig he has won 4 trophies in 5 years

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ashp19 added 18:16 - May 27 I hope this is true, and if so, hats off to all involved in reaching this, in my opinion correct decision. The sports media have, as always been awful around the speculation, mostly fuelled by the need to gain clicks rather than true content. KM will become (and in many ways already is) one of the top managers in due course, but I'm so pleased the project continues! Absolutely made my summer if he stays.

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Dissboyitfc added 18:19 - May 27 Karlos dont forget Bobby Robson was going to leave Itfc in 1977 to join Everton! Our only chance of staying up is with McKenna, momentum is key and a new person would have changed things! So great news!
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Dissboyitfc added 18:19 - May 27 Karlos dont forget Bobby Robson was going to leave Itfc in 1977 to join Everton! Our only chance of staying up is with McKenna, momentum is key and a new person would have changed things! So great news!
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dowsie3 added 18:30 - May 27 Like everyone else so pleased he is staying the telling thing in Phil article is Brighton weren’t prepared to wait indefinitely for him to commit to Brighton he was always waiting for the Man Utd job and who could blame him.
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cfmoses added 18:33 - May 27 I rely on Phil Ham…so close to the club and he rarely issues info to us that turns out to be false. This I think is the most important negotiation by the club this summer that will give us the best chance of staying up. The players will take as much a sigh of relief as the supporters and if it means Kieran has a bigger war chest even better.
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 18:34 - May 27 Why have we been believing all the heresay and nonsense the pasrr
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EssexTractor added 18:37 - May 27 Karlos…when did you hear him say “I am ready to leave …ready !” Maybe he did , certainly it would have been unwise for him not to have heard the alternatives But if this report is correct that he will state , then every true supporter should be pleased and not hold him in any disregard
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Suffolkboy added 18:37 - May 27 This man won’t and didn’t compromise his principles or integrity ; never a direct word was heard from KM who maintained the dignified stance and outlook we’ve witnessed since ever he came on the scene . If and when he signs for an improved ( and maybe extended ) contract we shall all breathe a sigh of relief — AND celebrate . I’d expect our Board, Owners ,Management , and Investors will likewise be over the Moon : and have no doubts that further investment will be available as and when to support the incredible ITFC project ! COYB

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Tommy_ITFC added 18:37 - May 27 Top 4 confirmed fcking get in COYB
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algarvefan added 18:44 - May 27 Get it signed NOW!!! Don't be critical of KM as we only know what the press have said and they are a bunch of lying barstewards. If he tested other waters, good for him but I never thought he'd leave with the job half done!! I'm going to have a chocolate Hob Nob to celebrate!
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Karlosfandangal added 18:48 - May 27 EssexTractor Please don’t question if I am a true supporter my first game was December 77 a 3-2 win against Q.P.R. and I have been to many games when there was only 8k for a league game mid week, I was able to name the seat I wanted pioneer stand block H row A seat 16 and then Town won Division 2 and you could not get a seat….funny all these fans came back. Happy that he is staying but it’s taken the shine off things for me…..he should have said from the off that he was honour to lead Town in the Prem not just kept quiet.

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blue86 added 18:52 - May 27 Yesssssss, come arrrrn!!! Really good news, would have been really unsettling to start the campaign without McKenna here, the players love him the fans loves him etc. Enjoy him while while we can, if he can prove himself in the prem over a couple of seasons with us and the big boys come calling then then I understand. But for now the journey continues....Happy days! COYB

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blue86 added 18:52 - May 27 Yesssssss, come arrrrn!!! Really good news, would have been really unsettling to start the campaign without McKenna here, the players love him the fans loves him etc. Enjoy him while while we can, if he can prove himself in the prem over a couple of seasons with us and the big boys come calling then then I understand. But for now the journey continues....Happy days! COYB

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rfgasmith added 18:55 - May 27 Yayyyy, signing of the season. Let's get it done.
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GrasmereBlue added 18:55 - May 27 Phew if it's true, but as we say in the NHS " if it ain't written down, it's a rumour "
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SickParrot added 19:02 - May 27 Great news. I conclude that because Utd are taking longer than expected to decide whether to sack Ten Haag, Kieran has agreed to sign a new contract to end the speculation and ensure that our planning for next season isn't compromised. By doing so he displays his usual integrity.
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thundercat added 19:02 - May 27 So, can he be trusted to stick with his commitments or will a bigger club turn his head, one thing is for sure no doubt the players are relieved
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LegendofthePhoenix added 19:07 - May 27 Delighted to hear he is staying, as I think he will keep us in the Prem with a few places to spare. But we do need to understand, he is not going to stay to see out this contract. I'm sure that there will be a much bigger buyout clause, so that when he does go, we will get a significant compensation sum. So for now, we've got Super Kieran McKenna, let's continue the journey and enjoy it, whilst understanding that a really good season for us will probably see him poached by one of the big six in 12 months.

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