Kieran McKenna has revealed that he has turned down several job offers throughout his time as manager of Ipswich Town.

The Blues boss was strongly linked to Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton back in the summer before ultimately penning a new four-year deal in Suffolk.

Asked what that period was like, ahead of United coming to Portman Road for a Premier League clash on Sunday, he said: “I think that’s been a fairly frequent occurrence since I’ve been at Ipswich over the last three years, to be honest.

"In the summer it was really, really public, but in every season that I’ve been here I’ve had opportunities to leave to a club that was higher up in the table.

"I had opportunities last year, in the Championship, to go to Premier League clubs that were in a much, much better position than we were at at that time. And there were opportunities and interest in the summer to leave too. For me it’s been a fairly regular occurrence. 

“If you’re a manager that’s winning games and doing well, certainly a young manager who’s had a really good impact in your first job, then there’s always going to be interest. But I also know that the narrative in football can change so, so quickly when you’re not doing well.

"I’d like to think I’ve always managed to stay really, really level in those circumstances. I always had good communication with the club. My relationship with (chairman) Mark (Ashton) has always been really honest and clear. That was the case in the summer, nothing was done underhand. It was my decision, with input from Mark and the ownership, that the most meaningful thing for me this year was leading this club back into the Premier League. 

“I’d like to think I’ve shown a pretty consistent loyalty to staying here and a desire to take this project as far as I can. The club were good enough to give me the responsibility to lead the project, I want to take it as far as we possibly can and we don’t feel like we’ve reached our full capacity yet by any means.” 

It's understood that Crystal Palace sounded out McKenna as Roy Hodgson's replacement back in February before ultimately appointing Oliver Glasner.  

McKenna added: “I don’t think it does anyone any favours to talk about any specific situations in retrospect. What is well known is that there was interest and offers this summer from some really good football clubs, things that needed to be considered, but as I've said previously, my heart and focus was on staying at the club and being the one to take us into the Premier League this year. I’m happy with that decision."