Kieran McKenna drops Chelsea interest bombshell- as other candidates emerge

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has refused to entirely rule himself out of the Chelsea job following the sacking of Mauricio Pochettino on Tuesday evening. The 38-year-old McKenna is high on the list of potential Chelsea managers having led Ipswich back to the Premier League for the first time in 28 years. 

He plays the style of football that is attractive to the Chelsea owners and he's young enough to meet the criteria the board reportedly want.

McKenna has been linked to the Chelsea and Manchester United jobs as well at Brighton and Hove Albion since his team secured promotion to the top league. 

But speaking to Sky Sports, he admitted all the interest is down to the fact that his team did a good job this season. He said: “Look, the club has had such a positive season and has such a positive future ahead. We’ve achieved so much, it’s been an incredible two years.

“When you have success like that there always comes speculation and things like that, we’ve seen that every summer. But I know how much everyone is looking forward to the season, the club is on a fantastic path and everyone is just really looking forward to the season ahead.”

When pressed on the links with Chelsea, United, and Brighton, McKenna added: “Again, when you do well – as a manager or as a player – there’s always going to be speculation.

“I know what we’ve achieved isn’t a normal thing so there’s always going to be speculation. But that’s not where my focus is… tonight is about what we’ve achieved over the last couple of seasons.

“It’s been a wonderful couple of years so tonight is about celebrating that. I know everyone is looking forward to next season and I know the club is going to be in a really good place going into that season.”

Other candidates linked to the Chelsea job have been Brentford's Thomas Frank, Robert De Zerbi, who has just left Brighton and Hove Albion and  Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe, LondonWorld has been told.