Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is being considered for the Crystal Palace job, with the Eagles already planning for life after Roy Hodgson, according to journalist Alan Nixon.
Hodgson was appointed as Palace’s manager this March after the departure of Patrick Vieira from Selhurst Park, the veteran boss returning to Palace and succeeding in the short-term – helping his team finish 11th in the Premier League last season after a minor relegation scare.
This success has continued into this new campaign, Hodgson’s Palace even beating Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford last time out.
But, the 76-year-old former England manager looks like he won’t be sticking it out with the Eagles past this season.
Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna is just one notable name among many on the list of potential managers that could replace Hodgson when he likely departs the South Londoners.
It’s no real surprise to see McKenna linked with potential Premier League job openings, the 37-year-old has completely turned the fortunes of Ipswich as boss after the Tractor Boys had found themselves marooned in League One football under uninspiring managers Paul Cook and Paul Lambert previously.
Kieran McKenna managed to win automatic promotion with Ipswich in his first season in charge, 98 points accumulated along the way in a campaign where McKenna’s men blew teams away with their attacking quality – scoring 101 goals from 46 matches played.
Ipswich have taken the step-up to the Championship in their stride too, the Tractor Boys currently find themselves in 2nd spot in the division with seven wins from nine.
A recent 1-1 draw away at Huddersfield showed their ability to scrap for a point too, Manchester United loanee Brandon Williams scoring late on to clinch a share of the points against new manager Darren Moore’s Terriers.
McKenna was highly thought of within the Manchester United structure when he was with the Red Devils as U18’s manager and then assistant manager, but he had to leave Old Trafford behind to really prove himself as a manager in his own regard.
He’s certainly done that, with Crystal Palace taking notice of McKenna’s promise at Ipswich – the 37-year-old winning 54 of his 91 games in charge of the Suffolk based club.
It will be intriguing to see whether or not Palace do swoop in and try and steal McKenna from Portman Road, the 37-year-old looks settled at Ipswich currently with his eyes on another promotion.
McKenna might well fancy testing himself at Crystal Palace, especially if Ipswich cannot keep up their electric start to this season over the 46-game marathon that is the Championship and fall short.
Fans of the Tractor Boys will just hope McKenna stays loyal to Ipswich if these rumours are true, waving away interest from the Eagles to stay put in Suffolk.
Writer’s View
McKenna is one of the most exciting managers in English football at this current point in time, his Ipswich side play attractive, attacking football that regularly gets fans out of their seats at Portman Road.
Results are also going currently going hand-in-hand with the easy on the eye style of football, Ipswich loving Championship life to date.
Yet, the only concern that comes with their continued success is the fact that McKenna could well be poached by a suitor from the Premier League.
These anxieties will no doubt grow stronger if Ipswich continue to excel, Palace might well not be the only club in the queue for McKenna’s services if that did happen.
Ipswich should just enjoy the moment currently however, the Tractor Boys a team reborn again after years in the League One wilderness.
