Ipswich Town’s promotion hopes could take a huge dent this month with Crystal Palace planning on replacing Roy Hodgson with Kieran McKenna, what would be a big boost for rivals Leeds United, and Southampton.
At present, it looks as though it’s four sides looking to fit into two automatic promotion slots in the Championship – Leicester City comfortably lead the way, with Southampton next, then Leeds and Ipswich Town aiming to hunt down the Saints.
The Tractor Boys’ run this season since coming up from League One has been remarkable, albeit with a current rocky patch seeing their lead in the top two evaporate completely.
Having won just once in the league since December 12, Kieran McKenna’s side sit fourth and three points behind Leeds, but the manager might not be there too much longer.
That is because The Telegraph are reporting that he is one of two candidates being lined up to take over from Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace, who remains teetering on the brink after their latest bad result – losing 3-1 at home to Chelsea after taking the lead.
A decision is not said to be imminent on Hodgson, but McKenna and Oliver Glasner are the two front-runners at Selhurst to replace the veteran.
Ipswich form tailing off of late in Championship promotion race
Portman Road has been one of the best places to watch football this season with McKenna rightly attracting attention from the Premier League, from how he’s transformed a mid-table League One side into one that has a reasonable chance of being in the top flight next term.
Having beat Watford in December, the Tractor Boys have suffered a great deal with a bad run of form, picking up just one other win since then against Sunderland at home – losing to Preston and Leeds while drawing every other game, and being knocked out of the FA Cup by minnows Maidstone United too.
Palace’s appointment of McKenna would make it a three-horse race for promotion
If McKenna was to leave Ipswich right now, that would seriously harm their chances for promotion in general, and you could rule them out of the top two running.
It’s a testament to his coaching that he’s brought this squad up from languishing in League One to being in the race for promotion to the Premier League.
A drop-off was inevitable after their over-performance in the first half of the season, and the last thing they need is McKenna being touted for PL gigs.
