"At least Christmas 2024" - Ipswich Town, Kieran McKenna claim issued amid West Ham interest | OneFootball

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more…

Kieran McKenna's time at Ipswich Town has been an undoubted success so far, and it's only natural that the Northern Irishman is being linked with jobs at a higher level.

McKenna took over at Portman Road in December 2021 and helped the club regain some form, finishing 11th in League One in his first season at the helm, before leading the club to automatic promotion last season.

However, things have gotten even better this season, and with just three games left, the Tractor Boys are in contention to make it back-to-back promotions and reach the Premier League.

With that in mind, there's no wonder his name is being linked with big clubs, and West Ham United are the latest club to be linked with the Ipswich boss.

TEAMtalk reported that McKenna is in the frame to replace David Moyes at the London Stadium, with the current Hammers boss set to see his deal expire at the club this summer.

Kieran McKenna swapping Ipswich Town for West Ham may be a massive risk

There's bound to be speculation about Kieran McKenna's future at Ipswich Town this summer, particularly if his side aren't promoted, but FLW's Ipswich fan pundit Henry is quietly confident that he'll still be at Portman Road next season.

"I think similarly to when he was linked with the Crystal Palace job, I don’t think West Ham would excite McKenna right now," Henry told Football League World.

“I say that, but I can also see the appeal. It’s a very big club with some very good players in that squad, and it does look like the owners are trying to back Moyes, but I just don’t think Moyes is the right fit for West Ham anymore.

"I don’t think McKenna is likely to be turned by West Ham this year. I think even if we don’t go up, I think McKenna will be there until at least Christmas next season, just depending on what the movement of other managers are.

"I think there’s only a couple of clubs that McKenna would be swayed by, and that are able to be moulded the way that he wants to play football and how he wants the club to be run behind the scenes."

Henry pointed to previous West Ham examples as to why a move to the Hammers may not be the best for the young manager.

He said: “He would take a bit of a risk leaving for a club like West Ham where they have made rash decisions with players and managers before, like when Moyes left West Ham and then came back, and you saw with Sebastien Haller he came in and was sold quickly because he didn’t seem to fit the profile of what they were trying to do.

“I think at the moment I’m quietly confident of McKenna staying at Ipswich until at least Christmas 2024.”

Kieran McKenna has certainly proved his credentials as Ipswich Town manager

Kieran McKenna took a risk leaving the Manchester United set-up to join a side struggling in League One, and it's certainly paid off for the 37-year-old.

If he led Ipswich to promotion, his side would become the first side to make it back-to-back promotions since bitter rivals Norwich City did so 13 years ago, and as a young manager, it would make the feat even more impressive for McKenna.

Obviously, everyone at Ipswich will hope McKenna stays at the club, but if he was to leave for West Ham or elsewhere, no one could begrudge him the opportunity.

However, with just three games left of the Championship season, the Tractor Boys' boss will have full focus on leading the club to promotion and going down in the history books.