Kieran McKenna has spoken out about what lies ahead for him at Ipswich Town, amid speculation that he could be offered the Manchester United position.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has purchased 25% of Manchester United and will take over the football operations at Old Trafford, bringing about significant upheaval.
They are already making measures to replace and restructure the boardroom staff in order to enhance the club’s direction, and there have been indications that a management change is also on the way.
Erik ten Hag remains Manchester United’s manager, however Football Insider has previously stated that the present manager is not regarded as a long-term choice for the club. A more recent update from the outlet suggests that they are quite interested in the Ipswich management.
They further stated that some inside Old Trafford have been immensely impressed with his efforts to elevate Ipswich from League One to the top of the Championship, and that insiders within the club regard him as a future manager of the Red Devils.
McKenna had served as a coach for Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer before joining Town.
According to The Guardian, Crystal Palace attempted but failed to bring McKenna on board as they sought potential candidates for Roy Hodgson, with the 37-year-old manager stating at the time that he was only interested in Ipswich, as reported by London News Online.
With whispers of a return to Old Trafford circulating, the Tractor Boys’ manager has spoken out about his own and the club’s future.
Kieran McKenna opens up about Ipswich’s future amid Manchester United links.
Town recently announced intentions to refurbish their training facility on Playford Road. They had erected three brand-new pitches at the site last season, costing the club £1.5 million, according to EADT, but the focus with these new ideas will be on enhancing the training ground’s structures.
McKenna was asked by Sky Sports how much he wanted to be part in the development of Playford Road, and his response may put Ipswich fans at ease regarding his future with the club.
He stated, “Even with the changes made to the training ground over the last two years, I’ve always had a large say in it. There has been some good work at the stadium where I’ve been consulting. However, when it comes to the training ground, I believe it is appropriate for a manager to have input. I’ll always handle the club as if I’m going to be here forever, and I’ll make sure it’s in good shape for many years to come, and the training ground will play a key role in that.
The 37-year-old mentioned his time at Old Trafford and his experiences there as something that could benefit Ipswich in the next stages of their training site development.
“But, of course, I will share my experiences,” McKenna remarked. “I was with Tottenham [Hotspur] when they relocated from their Chigwell training ground to their Enfield facility, which is one of the best in the world. Of course, at Manchester United, as well as the work done at Carrington, which is another amazing facility.
“So, yes, I appreciate making a contribution to it. I believe that is the correct thing for the role, but I also want to contribute my insights and expertise. Hopefully, we can construct something here in terms of infrastructure that will withstand the test of time and position the club for a very successful future.”
McKenna’s statements should make Ipswich supporters feel better about his future.
Because of his prior links to the club, as well as the fact that it is Manchester United, Town fans are understandably concerned about his potential departure. Even in their current state of turmoil, they remain one of the world’s most powerful clubs, and their reputation is still respected.
McKenna has taken this side since taking over in December 2021. From mid-table League One to leading the Championship with half a dozen games to go in two and a half seasons, it would be unreasonable for an Ipswich fan to want him to stay at any costs for what he has done for the club.
His statement that he is handling the club as if he will be there for a long time should be seen as such. There is a clear intention to build with the club rather than use it as a stepping stone.
Ipswich gave him his first chance as a manager, and being Manchester United manager as your second job would be a big step up, but you’d hope he’d repay the club’s trust with a longer stay, and his desire to help build Playford Road into a top facility suggests he’s in it for the long haul.
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