Brentford are now lining up Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna as a potential replacement for Tottenham Hotspur bound Thomas Frank.
Thomas Frank has done a superb job during his 317 games in charge of Brentford, but he is now set to start a new chapter with Tottenham.
Frank has already held talks with Daniel Levy and the Spurs chairman has agreed to one of the Dane’s key requests.
Brentford and Tottenham are currently in discussions over Frank’s release clause, and there’s optimism that an agreement will be reached relatively swiftly.
And upon that realisation, Brentford are already searching for their next manager.
Brentford considering Kieran McKenna to replace Thomas Frank
TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Brentford are admirers of Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna.
Brentford have been impressed with McKenna and the work he has done at Portman Road, and he is a name who is firmly on their radar.
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images
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Brighton tried and failed to land McKenna last summer before they opted for Fabian Hurzeler, but Brentford could yet try and persuade him to leave relegated Ipswich.
Although, McKenna is not the only candidate who Brentford have done work on.
Liam Rosenior has been hugely impressive at French side Strasbourg of late and the Englishman has caught Brentford’s eye.
Rosenior rebuffed interest from Southampton earlier this summer, insisting that he would only leave for a Premier League job.
In addition, Brentford also have an option of promoting from within, as they did with Frank back in 2018, who was at the club for almost two years before being promoted.
Head coach Justin Cochrane is being seen as a possible option, although at this stage it’s understood that an internal promotion is not seen as likely.
David Moyes has been impressed by Kieran McKenna at Ipswich
Speaking last month, Everton manager David Moyes gave a glowing review of McKenna’s talent, perhaps explaining why Brentford are interested.
Moyes hailed McKenna’s work as ‘unbelievable’, even when his side were set to be relegated back to the Championship.
Moyes said: “A great, great young manager who half the country wanted last year.
“I could stand corrected here, but I think he’s the only one who’s taken a team from the third division to the Championship to the Premier League.
“I thought I was going to do it when I was manager of Preston – third Division, straight up, Championship, I lost in the play-off final to Big Sam’s Bolton.
“Kieran has been able to take the team all the way, which is an unbelievable achievement.
“When you have to jump those leagues – we’re all talking a lot about Wrexham at the moment, how well they have done and the amazing work Phil Parkinson has done – I think Kieran has done that into the Premier League, which is so good.”
A superb young manager as Moyes points out, and someone who might be capable of living up to Frank’s high standards.