Exclusive: Ipswich Town "hope" claim dropped over Kieran McKenna as West Ham links intensify | OneFootball

Kieran McKenna is one of the potential candidates to replace Graham Potter at West Ham United

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is a contender to potentially replace Graham Potter as West Ham United manager.

The East London outfit have started their 2025/26 Premier League campaign in dire fashion, losing three out of their first four matches without much of a fight.

Potter’s side have conceded 10 goals across these three defeats, scoring just once, which highlights how poorly they are currently performing.

This has naturally led to increased pressure on the Hammers’ current boss, with the Daily Mail reporting that the club’s co-owner, David Sullivan, has been keen to blame Potter and his staff for their recent struggles.

If West Ham continue to lose matches, his dismissal could come sooner rather than later, which will be of some concern for Ipswich Town.

Their manager, McKenna, is one of the bookies’ favourites to take over at the London Stadium and was reportedly spotted visiting the club’s boardroom during their 3-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, according to Football Insider.

The 39-year-old was heavily linked to the vacant managerial role at Brentford during the summer following Thomas Frank’s exit, but Keith Andrews was ultimately chosen as the ideal candidate.

McKenna has been in charge of the Tractor Boys for almost four years and led them from League One to the top-flight in successive seasons.

Lee Hendrie weighs in on Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich Town future amid West Ham United links

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and former Aston Villa midfielder, Lee Hendrie, believes that Ipswich Town will be keeping a close watch on how Potter’s situation develops at West Ham United.

“Ipswich will be looking at the current situation and they'll be expecting everything to sort of click into place,” Hendrie told FLW.

“I think most of these top clubs that are expected to get promotion, Ipswich being one of them - always have to have their mind and their eyes out elsewhere.

“I’m sure they’ll be looking at Potter and keeping a watchful eye on managers who are not really performing and the ones that are available at the moment.

“They’ll hope to keep Kieran McKenna - he's got a few bonus points under his belt.”

Ipswich Town will hope to keep Kieran McKenna even if Graham Potter is sacked

After West Ham United’s dreadful start to the 2025/26 campaign, it isn’t unlikely to think that Potter may face the chop sooner rather than later.

Although the Hammers’ results have been poor, their performances have been even worse, which means that there isn’t a single element of positivity the former Chelsea and Brighton boss can cling on to.

In the scenario that the East London outfit turn to McKenna, Ipswich Town will hope that they have enough to convince him to stay.

The Suffolk side’s recent 5-0 demolition of Sheffield United showed a glimpse of what they’re capable of doing this season in the Championship and points towards the strong possibility of a real promotion push.

Whereas West Ham’s squad looks desperate and one of the early contenders for relegation to the second-tier.

McKenna could stick with a squad he’s assembled and potentially have another shot in the top-flight with them, or risk dropping back down to the Championship in a year’s time in charge of a club he doesn’t have a unique relationship with.