Graham Potter learns potential West Ham fate that could impact Ipswich Town | OneFootball

Kieran McKenna has been linked with the West Ham job as pressure intensifies on Graham Potter.

West Ham United head coach Graham Potter's future reportedly hinges on their upcoming four Premier League matches, which could have a knock-on effect at Ipswich Town amid links surrounding Kieran McKenna.

The East London club have started the top-flight season in extremely underwhelming fashion in what is Potter's first full campaign at the London Stadium following his January appointment, with the Hammers losing four of their first five games across all competitions, shipping a plethora of goals in the process.

After ending last season in 14th place, some 18 points above the relegation zone which featured Leicester City, the Tractor Boys and Southampton, there was hope that the former Swansea City boss could progress West Ham back up the table following an inconsistent campaign under his and Julen Lopetegui's management.

However, such circumstances haven't been forthcoming whatsoever, with supporters at the London Stadium continuing to voice their anger towards Potter and the ownership group, fronted by David Sullivan, as showcased during recent home defeats in local derbies with Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.

As such, two high-profile Championship managers have been linked with the vacancy in this part of the capital should Potter swiftly receive his P45, although it is those at Portman Road who could be casting a keener eye on the upcoming quartet of results for the Irons.

Graham Potter learns potential West Ham United fate that could impact Ipswich Town, Kieran McKenna

During his eight-month tenure in charge of West Ham, Potter has won just six of his 24 competitive matches, leaving him with a current win percentage of just 25% whilst averaging a solitary point per game.

The 50-year-old saw his side fail to back up a pressure-easing 3-0 victory at Nottingham Forest before the recent international break, losing by the same scoreline at home to Thomas Frank's side, whilst Tomas Soucek was also shown a red card.

Despite there being a mass exodus of supporters even prior to the full-time whistle, it was then reported by Football Insider that McKenna was invited to the Hammers boardroom by Sullivan, creating speculation that the former Manchester United assistant boss could be the man to take over the reins at the London Stadium if the hierarchy eventually make a sack call.

The likes of José Mourinho, Nuno Espírito Santo and Coventry City boss, Frank Lampard, had all previously been linked with the role. However, the former and most notorious of the trio has since been counted out, with Mourinho returning to his native Portugal to take charge of Benfica.

Amid all the speculation, it is now being claimed by the Football Insider that Potter has the upcoming four games to save his job, which starts on Saturday against Crystal Palace at the London Stadium, before encounters against Everton, Arsenal and Brentford.

Prior to his afternoon in East London, McKenna oversaw Ipswich's first win of the season in all competitions, with the Blues thrashing the Championship's bottom club, Sheffield United, 5-0 in Suffolk with Jaden Philogene scoring a hat-trick and subsequently seeing Ruben Selles be the first managerial casualty of the second-tier season.

Ipswich Town will hope Kieran McKenna stays loyal to Portman Road rebuild

Whilst the chance to manage in the Premier League is an opportunity hard for most managers to turn down, supporters at Portman Road and Town CEO, Mark Ashton, will be hoping McKenna can eventually reach the promised land again with Ipswich as they look to build momentum heading into the gruelling winter period.

In recent times, the atmosphere surrounding West Ham has proven extremely toxic, and a failure to immediately halt the Irons' drastic slide could prove detrimental to the Northern Irishman's stock, which is still significantly high despite Town's relegation last time out.

This is also the opinion of Sky Sports pundit and EFL expert, Lee Hendrie, who exclusively told Football League World : “I just think this one might be a little too soon for Kieran McKenna, I think the right job’s got to come around and I’m not sure West Ham are the right one."

It remains to be seen what set of circumstances play out in the meantime though, with both clubs aiming for their second victories of the season against Palace and Blackburn Rovers respectively.