Former Chelsea boss contender to become Ipswich manager after Kieran McKenna exit

Kieran McKenna has stepped down as manager of Ipswich Town despite guiding the club back to the Premier League.

The former Manchester United assistant manager took the reins at Portman Road in December 2021, remarkably achieving back-to-back promotions in his first full seasons.

While he was unable to keep Ipswich in the Premier League, he secured an immediate return to the top-flight last season by finishing second in the Championship behind Frank Lampard’s Coventry City.

But on Wednesday, McKenna announced he would be leaving the Tractor Boys despite having another two years left on his contract.

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Fulham, who are searching for a new manager after Marco Silva turned down a new contract to join Benfica, have been linked with the highly-rated 40-year-old.

But in his statement, McKenna explained he was planning to take some time away from the game: ‘It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and contentment that I have decided to step down from the honour of managing this historic football club.  

‘When you have the connection that we have built at this club there is never a good time to say goodbye.

‘However, having achieved a second promotion to the Premier League last season, with another memorable final day in our stadium, and after reflection over the last couple of weeks, I feel this is the right time for me to step aside.  

‘After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far.

‘I will be forever grateful for the way that you [the fans] welcomed myself and my family, both to the football club and to the county of Suffolk. I will cherish the memories that we have shared together for the rest of my life. Ipswich Town will always have a special place in our hearts.’

It is understood that if McKenna were to take on another job in the next 12 months, Ipswich would be due £7million in compensation.

It is said club chairman Mark Ashton had contingency plans in the event the Northern Irish manager departed, and with just over two months before the start of the 2026/27 Premier League season, those plans will be rapidly accelerated.

As for who could takeover in the dugout, former Brentford and Tottenham boss Thomas Frank has been installed as the bookies favourite.

That’s despite the Dane recently saying he was in no rush to return to management after he was sacked by Spurs in February following a disastrous few months.

Liam Rosenior, who lasted just 107 days as Chelsea head coach before being dismissed in April, is also a frontunner, as is Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard.

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