'Stay at Ipswich, build them' - Pundits have their say on McKenna to Brighton link

Football pundits Simon Jordan and Martin Keown say Kieran McKenna should stay at Ipswich Town and continue his incredible journey with the Blues.

The Town boss has, inevitably, been linked with a series of Premier League jobs since leading the Blues to back-to-back promotions and making himself perhaps the hottest managerial property in England.

READ MORE: Stuart Watson's verdict on McKenna to Brighton link

He's currently the odds-on favourite for the hot seat at Brighton after Roberto De Zerbi departed, but has also been linked to former club Manchester United and Chelsea in recent days.

Roberto De Zerbi has left Brighton, with Kieran McKenna the bookies' favourite to replace him (Image: Steven Paston/PA Wire)
As we understand it, it's business at usual at the Blues. No-one has made an official approach to speak to McKenna.

And, debating the story on talkSPORT, ex-Crystal Palace owner and chairman Jordan insisted that he should stay with the Blues.

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“I would think he wants to be a bit better than your average football manager, rather than just jumping at what is perceived to be the next big opportunity," Jordan opined.

“He is not experienced in managing in the Premier League. He’s taken a team through the leagues, and has got remarkable achievements and remarkable credit for it.

“I think he’ll get even more remarkable credit if he goes into the league and operates with Ipswich and shows a degree of respect and loyalty for the opportunity that was given to him.

“He’s paid them back, no doubt – he’s got them into the Premier League. But I think there will be more thought of him if he stays with Ipswich and does a good job there, than there will be about him jumping for the first Premier League opportunity that comes along.

“Because if he’s as good as he looks like he can be, then he doesn’t need to go to Brighton as a stepping stone, he can go somewhere else.

“Stay at Ipswich, build them and be successful higher up the pyramid.”

Kieran McKenna has led Town to back-to-back promotions (Image: Steve Waller)
That view was echoed by Arsenal legend Martin Keown.

The Premier League winner said: "He’s had two promotions McKenna, back to back.

"You look at the money, the budget they’ve been going with and all the teams that came down, the parachute payments that he was up against.

“They didn’t have the budget and he’s done remarkably well to do it.

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“Personally I think – and it depends on him – but I think he should stay where he is.

“It’s been a long time coming to see the Tractor Boys back in the Premier League. I think he should continue with that journey.

“I can see why they (Brighton) want to take him.”