Football pundit and Norwich City legend Chris Sutton has weighed in with his thoughts on what in-demand Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna should do this summer.
The Town boss, who made more history last night by picking up an a double at the LMA Awards, has been linked with the top jobs at Brighton, Manchester United and Chelsea in recent days.
Of all those links and speculation, the Brighton one appears to be the strongest, with McKenna the bookies' favourite to get the job - although he insisted last night that he's focused on next season in the Premier League with Town.
READ MORE: Stuart Watson's verdict on McKenna to Brighton link
And, discussing the subject on Radio Five Live, host Mark Chapman said that the Seagulls - who parted company with boss Roberto De Zerbi at the weekend - have apparently had McKenna at the top of their succession list since the start of the season.
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Asked what McKenna should do, panto villain Sutton - who praised Town and 'marvellous' McKenna earlier this month - said: “I’d go to Brighton.
"We’ve seen the three promoted clubs from last season go straight back down and I look at Brighton’s squad and I look at Ipswich’s squad…
“I think the whole story at Ipswich is incredible, the job that Kieran McKenna has done.
“I think that if you looked at the majority of the squad and the team who played in League One, the mainstays of that team got them up out of the Championship.
“So then to go again and stay in the Premier League, I think we’d all agree that’s a very tall order, but it’s not impossible.
“You then look at the Brighton squad and who has a better opportunity of staying up?"
Sutton argued that it's 'logical' for Town's boss to move on now, suggesting his ambitious nature will be a big driving factor.
“Kieran McKenna, his reputation has gone through the roof," Sutton explained. "We’ve all got good hearts and we all understand loyalty – and loyalty is important.
“But there is also ambition, and Kieran McKenna must be fiercely ambitious, so it’s about making that next step.
“This isn’t because I live near Norwich and played for Norwich City at all, it’s about a career move and what is the next best step for Kieran McKenna.
READ MORE: Pundits advise McKenna to 'stay and build Ipswich'
“I think it’s logical for him to move. Ipswich fans won’t like me saying that, but I really do. Just because of playing personnel.
“I don’t know what Ipswich’s budget is and how much money they have to spend - but we have seen the lesson which Kieran McKenna surely must have learned, when he sees Burnley spend £100m or whatever it is, Luton didn’t spend wildly, but they’ve all come straight back down.
“That’s something which I’m sure he’s looked at.”
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