Ipswich Town will have big Kieran McKenna fear as EFL looms - It would be heartbreaking | OneFootball

Ipswich Town will be fearing the inevitable with Kieran McKenna with relegation looming

Ipswich Town’s 2-1 loss to Wolves last weekend has all but ended the club’s hopes of survival in the Premier League and could end Kieran McKenna’s time at Portman Road if he's lured by the prospect of jumping ship to stay at an elite level.

Supporters of the Tractor Boys will always be wary of discussing the future of the manager, as it’s inevitable someone with his achievements will be linked with a move away eventually.

The Northern Irishman guided the Suffolk outfit from League One to the Premier League in back-to-back years, and gave them a fighting chance of even surviving in the top flight beyond one season.

However, McKenna has now found a limit to his success with Ipswich, and will have to regroup and go again for a promotion push next year if he stays.

But the opportunity to remain in the Premier League will surely arise, and that will be a tempting offer that could break fans’ hearts.

Kieran McKenna likely to attract Premier League job

McKenna was linked with a sensational move to Chelsea or Manchester United in the summer of 2024 following Ipswich’s promotion to the Premier League.

The 38-year-old opted to stay and sign a new deal, embarking on the challenge of keeping the Tractor Boys in the top division.

But that challenge has proven a step too far for now, but McKenna’s star is still shining quite bright despite the impending setback of relegation.

Clubs like Tottenham Hotspur are likely to be in the market for a new coach in the summer, and it would come as no surprise if an approach was made for the Ipswich boss.

He would fit their preferred vision, maintaining the attacking style that Ange Postecoglou has tried to implement over the last two seasons.

Spurs are unlikely to be the only club looking for a new manager in the summer, and who knows what other twists the coaching market could throw up at the end of the campaign.

McKenna will be at the forefront of a lot of clubs’ minds if a change is made in the dugout, and relegation will absolutely make it more difficult for Ipswich to hold onto him.

Ipswich have done admirably in the Premier League

Ipswich built a solid team to attack the Premier League under McKenna, and they’ve adapted to the step-up in challenge admirably, but it’s not quite been enough.

The vultures are already circling their first-team squad, with it being reported by the Guardian that, again, Chelsea and Man United are interested in Liam Delap.

McKenna’s side have fared much better than Leicester and Southampton, two clubs that came straight back up after their 2023 relegations, and that is to be commended.

But it is that strength in their performance that will make it all the more heartbreaking when McKenna is inevitably linked with a move away.

Supporters will be fearing his exit, as there are no guarantees that another coach could emulate his success in the Championship next year.

Fans have been given a taste at the top flight and will be eager to come back as quickly as possible, which would be doable if McKenna did again commit his future to Portman Road.