Kieran McKenna focuses on Ipswich Town, avoids Ireland distractions
- Kieran McKenna, manager of Ipswich Town, has several Irish players on his team, including Szmodics, O'Shea, and Ogbene.
- Despite the humorous suggestion from Szmodics to rename the club, McKenna will not promote declarations for Ireland.
- McKenna's focus is on the Premier League campaign, indicating a preference for club success over international player commitments.
Kieran McKenna, the manager of Ipswich Town, is taking a cautious approach regarding international player declarations. Despite the presence of several Irish players at the club, including Sammie Szmodics, Dara O'Shea, and Chiedozie Ogbene, McKenna has decided not to encourage any of his players to declare for Ireland. This decision comes as he focuses on the club's Premier League campaign, aiming to eliminate distractions. Szmodics humorously suggested renaming Ipswich Town to 'the Republic of Town' due to the number of Irish players, which McKenna found amusing but did not endorse. Additionally, attention is being drawn to Liam Delap, who is currently playing for England Under 21 but has potential ties to Ireland through his father, Rory Delap, a former Ireland midfielder. McKenna's stance reflects a strategic decision to prioritize the club's performance over international commitments, especially in a competitive league environment.