Town boss Kieran McKenna would be targeted by Brentford should Thomas Frank depart for Tottenham Hotspur, according to various reports.

Dane Frank is the favourite to replace Ange Postecoglou with the North Londoners, the Australian having parted ways with the club he led to the Europa League on Friday.

Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner and Marco Silva of Fulham have also been linked but with Frank’s representatives understood to have opened talks with Spurs. There is believed to be a £10 million release clause in Frank’s Brentford contract.

The Bees in turn are widely reported to be eyeing Town manager McKenna as Frank’s potential replacement, despite the Blues’ relegation back to the Championship after one season.

McKenna, who was at last night’s Fabio Wardley fight at Portman Road alongside chairman and CEO Mark Ashton, signed a new Town deal last summer, which runs to the summer of 2028, following talks with Brighton, who he came very close to joining, Chelsea and Manchester United.

The Northern Irishman committed his future to the Blues on a couple of occasions towards the end of the season, but could well be tempted by a swift return to the Premier League, having also been near to taking over at Crystal Palace during Town’s Championship promotion campaign, were a club to make an approach.

Brentford’s head of coaching, Justin Cochrane, who has also been tipped to take over from Frank should he depart, is a close friend of McKenna’s from their time working at Spurs and at Old Trafford.

Having had a nervy summer while McKenna assessed his options last year, Town fans could well have another edgy spell this close season if Frank does move on to Spurs and the Bees look towards the Blues boss.

The 39-year-old took over at Portman Road in December 2021 and led Town to back-to-back promotions from League One and then the Championship before relegation from the Premier League in 2024/25.

Photo: Action Images via Reuters

atty added 22:02 - Jun 8 Blues1 read the interview with Stuart Watson at the EADT.
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atty added 22:08 - Jun 8 Blues1 - article 11th April.”fully committed” , repeat “fully committed “.
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Lightningboy added 22:32 - Jun 8 Agree cressi ^ The whole "will he won't he" thing last May just after we got promoted made me lose a lot of respect/love for him. I just hope this gets put to bed one way or the other asap. I want a manager here who really wants to be here.
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rollercoastertown added 22:34 - Jun 8 Not a popular choice among Brentford fans! Knutsen or Norgaard much preferred by them.
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armchaircritic59 added 23:29 - Jun 8 Victorysquad, I agree with just about everything you say. Just pointing out that the wheels of football club management never stop turning. Like you I hope KM stays, and gets us back up to the Premier League straight away ( he has to ). In my opinion it would be a much bigger failure than what happened in the past season if it didn't happen. He will no doubt have learned plenty from a chasening experience. Still a young manager, first ever experience as a manager in his own right at the very top level. I'm just glad I never had thousands of people watching and commenting on my every move when I was working. Mind you, I was never paid quite so much!

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RobsonWark added 00:59 - Jun 9 Ashton's in talks with Cajuste about signing a long term contract. That's a far more interesting story and will be amazing for us if he signs.
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ArnieM added 06:14 - Jun 9 Gazell: it was McKenna who said he prefers players from the UK as foreign players often can't speak English ( he said) which causes problems in communications training sessions. Therefore he is part to blame for our lop-sided recruitment.
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tetchris added 06:17 - Jun 9 McK had done a good job up until last season when sadly he failed to keep town in PL and he has blotted his copy book quite badly as a result. His stock isnt as high as it was prior to last season and I think MA and the American owners will probably be thinking if he wants to leave then let him as he has probably taken town as far as he can. His lack of managerial experience really showed last season also he must of played a part in the poor recruitment of Muric and a couple of others who didn’t make the grade. I find it surprising that we give two spaces in the squad to two midfield players , Cajuste and Phillips who were constantly injured throughout the season, if there was one area of the pitch we needed consistency it was the midfield and town didn’t have it. Thanks for all you have done for Town McK, but I think it’s taxi for McKenna

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Carberry added 08:27 - Jun 9 If this rumour is true and not his agent trying to get him a move, then Brentford must have concluded that what he had to work with was never going to make an impression in the Premier League. Brentford have one of the best systems for identifying players, signing them and selling on for big money - we know that McKenna improves players so the fit is not so stupid. And for people still living in the 70s and 80s, Brentford are a much more successful club than us, their 'ceiling' is in the stratosphere compared with ours, we are in the Championship. We could also surmise that McKenna has experienced enough of our recruitment programme, which had to buy 2 goalkeepers in a season and also bought players unsuited to the physicality of the league. Oh, and the constant list of injuries. And of course the Ashton phone call before he goes to bed every night, might be wearing a bit thin by now!

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:45 - Jun 9 I think he had a 5 year plan when he joined us, he and his family are settled and we are still building a Premier squad, we were at least a year ahead of plan. Ipswich are a very good prospect in the medium term but failure to win promotion next season would change the situation
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NthStander added 08:53 - Jun 9 No doubt a great coach and able to bring out the best in players. Certainly able to get us in the lead in most games in the Premiership. However, just as happened with George Burley after getting us promoted he is too nice a person. He shows incredible loyalty to players who in reality not performing to the level required. Does not appear to have a ruthless streak and not prepared to mix it up - imagine Delap and Hurst mixing it up when 0-2 against us. May not be pretty but more if a chance to get the draw. Not sure Brentford will want to invest in a Manager who attracts a loyal following but is not proven in the Premiership but then Vincent Kompany made jump from relegation side to Bayern Munich champions. Hope he stays and reflects on his progress. That Ashton finds a mentor for Kieran to help improve and build on the great attributes he already has.

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cressi added 09:04 - Jun 9 NthStander Kompany got the job because in the past a elite player it's why ex top level players get the jobs that they do even after failure.
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ITFCson added 09:22 - Jun 9 McKenna has been a great manager overall for us, but last season was a disappointment and that has to be down at least in part to the manager. If he goes I will not mind, especially as we are in a good position to attract other very highly regarded managers. But whatever happens ideally we need it to happen quickly rather than drag on.
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bluebullet29l added 09:38 - Jun 9 Really don't get this....he is clearly a failure at premier league level.... most teams would of sacked him last season..one win at home....enough said
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BlueSkies added 09:39 - Jun 9 Whatever way you look at it McKenna crashed and burned big time last season. Any club taking him back to the premier league would be taking a huge risk. McKenna needs a couple more seasons in the championship getting more experience under his belt before he tackles the top league again. Even then, it might not be enough.
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bignics added 10:15 - Jun 9 Is this KM agent saying don’t cut his wages as he got us relegated so spreading rumours?! Let him go absolute one trick pony who was found out in the premier league and will be in the championship as he will not change as he can’t a bit like his mate Carrick who was fired because of his lack of a plan b!
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