Ipswich Town discover 41-year-old as possible Kieran McKenna replacement despite Brighton’s interest in head coach

If Kieran McKenna left for Brighton, Luton Town manager Rob Edwards would be a candidate for the position of head coach at Ipswich Town.

McKenna’s Tractor Boys have had a wonderful few years, with the Northern Irishman leading them to League One promotion in his first full season in command.

Against all expectations, Ipswich followed up with another promotion, finishing second in the Championship and securing a return to the Premier League with an incredible 96 points.

Naturally, this has drew attention from other sources, with some stating he is on Manchester United’s radar as they explore firing Erik ten Hag.

However, perhaps a more pressing problem is that Brighton will be looking for a new manager after announcing that Roberto De Zerbi will be leaving following the season’s last game on Sunday.

McKenna is well-liked by the Seagulls, and he is widely seen as a major contender to succeed Italian.

Ipswich Town consider Kieran McKenna replacements

Even though the Suffolk side would be anxious to keep their head coach given his remarkable performance over the years, this revelation may compel them to explore for alternatives.

According to the Telegraph, Edwards might succeed McKenna if he leaves Portman Road.

The 41-year-old earned an excellent reputation as a coach after leading Forest Green to promotion from League Two in his first position, before moving to Watford. But, like many on Vicarage Road, he was given little time.

That turned out to be a mistake, as he joined arch rivals Luton, and the Hatters were promoted to the Premier League after winning the play-offs.

Despite operating on a shockingly low budget in comparison to their rivals, Luton have been competitive in the top league this season, yet they are on track to be demoted.

They are three points behind Nottingham Forest heading into the last day, but with a goal difference 12 points worse than the Reds, they are virtually down.

Nonetheless, Edwards has won praise for his management abilities, despite having to deal with a significant injury list that has hampered Luton’s prospects of survival.

Ipswich Town are right to plan ahead

This is undoubtedly the news that Ipswich fans feared, but there is no guarantee that McKenna will quit, and he will understand that he is at a terrific club that gave him his big break in management, and that he has a strong bond with those who administer the club.

However, this is football, and this is the cost of success. So, the club is correct to line up successors, and Edwards appears to be a good fit.

He, like McKenna, is a young, ambitious coach, and while Luton will be relegated, most observers believe he has done a good job of keeping them competitive given how restricted his resources at this level.

So, it’ll be interesting to watch how this plays out, and Ipswich will undoubtedly want a swift resolution because they have a lot of work to do on the team this summer.