18 February 2024 , 22:30
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Premier League clubs wanting to hire Kieran McKenna as their next manager may have to be patient - after forming an orderly queue.
Crystal Palace, West Ham and Brentford are among those who have eyes on Ipswich Town’s personable young manager. Why wouldn’t they? The 37-year-old gained his second away victory in four days to keep the Tractor Boys revving hard for automatic promotion.
The Northern Irishman is averaging an impressive two points per game at Ipswich. But as Palace are finding, all admirers may have to wait until the summer after McKenna insisted: “I am enjoying my job here.
“That’s where my focus is at the moment and I’m really enjoying the really good season we’re having.”
But even if Ipswich do not earn back-to-back promotions under McKenna, their ambitious young boss may still go up. “Ultimately, in my career, that is where I want to work and where I want to make an impact,” he added.
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“I know the level, I have operated at that level, and I can help players and teams at that level. But there are some really good coaches at every level.”
McKenna, who coached under Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United, has lost only eight league matches in this season and last, combined.
Ipswich were made to work for their latest victory over Swansea but goals from Nathan Broadhead and Conor Chaplin – his 50th for the club – saw them gain back-to-back wins for the first time since mid-December.
Ipswich Town players celebrate with Conor Chaplin after his 50th goal for the club (PA)Midfielder Chaplin said: “It was an impressive performance – one where we really hand to grind out the win on a difficult surface.
“But that is what we pride ourselves on. We had people throwing their bodies on the line in tackles, people defending the box really well, forwards getting back and connecting on the edge of the box or in wide areas stopping crosses.”
The win keeps Ipswich part of the pack chasing an automatic promotion spot, along with Leeds and Southampton, with Leicester currently way out in front. At worst, a spot in the playoffs looks to be the bare minimum Ipswich can expect this season after weathering a tricky patch of form over Christmas and at the start of 2024.
Ipswich dropped points in the title clashes with both Leeds and Leicester just days either side of Christmas , losing 4-0 at Elland Road before settling for a point against the Foxes, who they drew with again just weeks later.
But Ipswich now have only Southampton left to play out of the top four as they look to edge out their promotion rivals, and still hold a game in hand over second-placed Leeds who are three points ahead.
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