Next Brighton manager odds: Kieran McKenna strong favourite to take over at the Amex

Kieran McKenna has emerged as the strong favourite to be named the next Brighton manager.

The current Ipswich manager has been priced at 11/10 be announced the new man in charge at the Amex Stadium following Roberto de Zerbi’s departure following the weekend’s final game of the season.

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De Zerbi’s departure came as a surprise to many with the Italian having done so much for the Sussex club in his short time in charge of the club.

The 44-year-old’s most notable achievement was undoubtedly their sixth-placed Premier League finish in 2023, the highest league finish in the club’s history, which lead to their first ever European campaign which saw them reach the last 16 of the Europa League.

Favourite to replace de Zerbi, McKenna has earned major appraisal as manager having led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions in his only full seasons as a senior manager having taken over the Suffolk club in December 2021.

This season, the 38-year-old became the first manager since Nigel Adkins in 2011 and 2012 to win two consecutive promotions straight to the Premier League from League One, returning Ipswich to the top flight for the first time since 2002.

The Northern Irishman had previously been the assistant manager at Manchester United under the likes of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, before moving to Ipswich to take his first senior role as manager midway through the 2021-22 season.

Brighton next manager odds (talkSPORT BET)

Kieran McKenna – 11/10
Francesco Farioli – 4/1
Russell Martin – 10/1
Graham Potter – 14/1
Liam Rosenior – 14/1
Will Still – 20/1

Also in the running for the Amex hotseat is the current Nice manager Francesco Farioli at 4/1, who worked as the goalkeeping coach as a member of Roberto de Zerbi’s staff while at Benevento and Sassuolo in his native Italy.

The 35-year-old took over as manager of the Ligue 1 side last summer following successful spells in Turkey, and delivered a fifth-placed finish for the French team in his only season in charge so far.

In third place in the odds list is the current Southampton boss Russell Martin at 10/1.

The chances of the former MK Dons and Swansea manager switching clubs could heavily depend on whether he can get his Saints promoted to the Premier League in Sunday’s Championship play-off final against Leeds.

Despite having represented Scotland on 29 occasions, Martin was actually born in Brighton, and represented the club’s academy as a teenager, and the pull of being close to his family and upbringing could lure him across the south coast to his hometown.

The Scot is another young manager who has impressed while managing in the EFL with his fast, attacking, possession-based football, currently enjoying his first season with Southampton, having joined them in the summer.

The 38-year-old has impressed in his first season on the Hampshire coast, and his taken his side to within 90 minutes of an instant return to the Premier League following the club’s relegation last season.

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