EFL pundit and Sheffield Wednesday legend Carlton Palmer believes that Ipswich Town don’t need to worry about Kieran McKenna leaving in the near future amid reports linking him with a move away.
Having spent four seasons with Manchester United’s first team as an assistant coach, McKenna decided to step down from his role at the end of 2021 to take over the vacant managerial position at Portman Road.
The Irishman endeared himself to the fans by overhauling the team’s style of play and earning promotion back to the Championship in his first full season with the Tractor Boys.
Many would have expected Ipswich Town to consolidate in the second-tier but McKenna’s men have had other plans. As things stand, Ipswich are sitting second in the table, level on points with league-leaders Leicester City, having won seven games from eight so far.
McKenna has already been linked with numerous different clubs due to the superb job he’s done with Ipswich. The 37-year-old was even one of the bookies’ favourites to take over from Ange Postecoglou at Celtic during the summer, as per Belfast Live.
Nevertheless, Carlton Palmer believes that, once the board backs the young head coach during the January transfer window, they need not worry about him leaving just yet.
Speaking to Football League World, Palmer said [quotes via FLW]:
“I firmly believe the owners will back him and they have thus far, so I really don’t think they need to worry about Kieran.
“I think he has a fantastic chance to take this club back to the Premier League, and what an achievement that would be if he won back-to-back promotions.
“I think they’ll back him again in the January transfer window, so it would have to be some offer to tempt him but also for the club to let him go,” he continued.
“[If winning] back-to-back promotions on your CV, you’ll go to cult status by getting the club back to the Premier League.”
Palmer seems quite sure that McKenna won’t leave but if a job offer pops up over the coming months that is too good to take, the Irish coach’s hand may be forced.
Nevertheless, even if he does leave, Ipswich are in a great place right now and will stabilise for another season in the Championship.