Kieran McKenna could leave Ipswich Town as new AFC Bournemouth twist emerges | OneFootball

The Cherries are plotting a move for the Town boss as Andoni Iraola prepares to leave the club

Ipswich Town are currently in a strong position to immediately return to the Premier League after being relegated to the Championship at the end of last season.

The Tractor Boys' recent trajectory as a club has been well-documented, with plenty of it being credited to the management of Northern Irish head coach, Kieran McKenna.

The former Manchester United assistant arrived at Portman Road in late 2021 and, within his first full season in charge in East Anglia, had ended the Blues' four-year exile from the Championship, before fending off the likes of newly-relegated Leeds United and Southampton to become the first side to go back-to-back in terms of promotions from the League One to the top-flight in 12 years.

Since then, expectation levels at Portman Road have changed drastically, particularly after the club found itself residing back in the EFL ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Along with the aforementioned Saints, many had tipped McKenna's side to win the title given the strength-in-depth at his disposal in comparison to that of many divisional rivals.

However, with Coventry City seemingly running away with the silverware at the end of the campaign, Town's focus is ensuring they now pip the likes of Middlesbrough, Millwall and Southampton to automatic promotion in their final five matches.

But, ahead of their game in hand against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Tuesday night, Tractor Boys supporters will not be best pleased to learn that more speculation has come to the fore regarding the 39-year-old's immediate future in the dugout.

AFC Bournemouth plot Ipswich Town, Kieran McKenna managerial swoop after shock Andoni Iraola news

Ipswich supporters have become accustomed to McKenna being the subject of managerial speculation over time, with the likes of Brighton and Hove Albion, Chelsea and his former club, Manchester United, casting eyes over his situation at various points within the past two years.

The Old Firm duo of Celtic and Rangers were also linked with moves for the London-born Northern Irishman last October after the dismissals of Brendan Rodgers and Russell Martin respectively, although no move would materialise.

It has now emerged that the latest club plotting a move for McKenna's services are AFC Bournemouth, according to the Athletic, after a bombshell on the future of Andoni Iraola was dropped on Tuesday afternoon.

Indeed, it has been widely reported that the Spaniard will leave the Vitality Stadium at the end of the Premier League season, which comes after speculation that he could replace former Bournemouth icon, Eddie Howe, at Newcastle United or current Manchester United interim boss, Michael Carrick, in the off-season.

The 43-year-old's current deal on the South Coast will see him officially depart on June 30th, with it being claimed that the club had done all they could to attempt to reach an agreement with the man who has them sat 11th in the top-flight, but only two points off a European position with six matches left.

Unsurprisingly, Ipswich are hoping McKenna will stay loyal to his current employers, although his own contract does include a release clause, which is reportedly at the £5m mark.

Ipswich Town could fear losing Kieran McKenna if Premier League status isn't regained

McKenna is currently tied down at Portman Road for the next two seasons, meaning Ipswich hold a strong amount of power when it comes to deciding his future.

At present, there is a strong chance that both the Tractor Boys and Bournemouth are in the same division next season, particularly if they are to win their game in hand against Pompey and then come out with a strong result in a mouth-watering clash against Middlesbrough on Sunday afternoon.

However, if they were not to regain their top-flight status, it could set alarm bells ringing, especially if the Cherries were to reach Europe, which would be a remarkable story in its own right.