FOOTBALL Mckenna heavily linked with Chelsea

Premier League

IT was only natural that after his exploits with Ipswich Town, Kieran Mckenna would be linked with plenty of managerial vacancies in the Premier League.

Having guided the Tractor Boys to the Premier League for the first time in 22 years following a promotion from League One to the

Championship, Mckenna was rewarded by being named the League Managers Association’s manager of the year.

Mckenna (38) was presented the Sir Alex Ferguson Trophy at an awards ceremony by the former Manchester United manager.

And his stock continues to rise as his odds of becoming the next Chelsea manager have dropped following the departure of Mauricio Pochettino.

As of Wednesday, the Ipswich boss’ odds have fallen to 4/1 with only Roberto De Zerbi ahead of him in the betting.

And Mckenna is also on the betting shortlist for the Manchester United job at odds of 10/1.

But when speaking to Sky Sports at the LMA awards, Mckenna was coy on the speculation.

“The club’s had such a positive season. Such a bright future ahead. It’s been an incredible two years and when you have those two years there’s always speculation and things like that. There’s been that every summer.

“I know how much everyone is looking forward to the season. I think the club is in a fantastic path and everyone is just really looking forward to the season ahead.”

When asked about the Brighton and Chelsea jobs, Mckenna said: “When you do well as a manager, or as a player there is always going to be speculation and I know what we have achieved is not an ordinary thing.

“So, of course, there is going to be speculation. But that’s not where my focus is, to be honest tonight.

“It’s about you know what we have achieved last season, what we’ve achieved over the last couple of seasons. Not just myself but everyone at the football club and it’s been a wonderful couple of years.

“So tonight’s about celebrating that. I know everyone is looking forward to next season and I know that the club’s going to be in a really, really good place going into that season.”