It's not exactly the best kept secret that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's job at Man United is under threat. It does appear that the position of Fermanagh man Kieran McKenna could be in danger at the club after five years in Manchester.
McKenna joined Man United's coaching staff in 2016 from Tottenham Hotspur, but multiple sources are now reporting that senior players in the dressing room have lost faith in the Irishman.
Kieran McKenna under threat at Man United
McKenna, who hails from Coa near Eniskillen, took over as assistant manager at Man United at the start of the 2018-19 season. Himself and Michael Carrick acted as second-in-command to José Mourinho - and when the "Special One" departed Old Trafford at Christmas 2018, both continued as assistant managers to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
If Solskjaer's job was not already in jeopardy before Sunday's disastrous 5-0 home loss to Liverpool, it certainly is now - and the Times are now reporting that McKenna may go with Solskjaer if this is indeed the end.
Paul Hirst of the Times reported this morning that, like Solskjaer, McKenna is well liked by the first team squad. However, his training sessions have allegedly failed to inspire senior players,
Kieran McKenna is regarded as a bright mind with a keen attention to detail within the club’s hierarchy but some squad members have been left uninspired by his training sessions. (@hirstclass) #MUFC pic.twitter.com/WSqLtiKqqf
— United Update (@UnitedsUpdate) October 25, 2021
Questions about Manchester United's coaching set-ups were raised by Jamie Carragher post-match on Sunday, when he questioned whether it was wise to have three coaches up top at Old Trafford (Solskjaer, McKenna, and Carrick) with limited senior coaching experience.
Mike Phelan, who was Alex Ferguson's assistant coach between 2008 and 2013, remains the only senior coach at Man United with experience at a big club prior to Solskjaer's arrival.
Speaking of Ferguson, the legendary manager was reportedly present for Man United training at the Carrington training complex on Tuesday. Despite multiple reports on Tuesday that Solskjaer retains the full faith of Ferguson on Man United's board, his presence at the training ground is ominous.
It also raises questions about whether Ferguson - who managed to win 13 Premier League titles during his time with United - is going down the same path as Matt Busby, who held a huge influence behind the scenes at Old Trafford, even after his second retirement. Some have retrospectively blamed that influence on Man United's decline post-Busby - perhaps something similar is happening now.
It's hard to know which reports about Solskjaer's future to believe, but it would be a shame to see such a widely-liked and respected Irish coach as Kieran McKenna fall with the Norwegian if this is to be the end.
SEE ALSO: Watch: Roy Keane Loses The Head With Ferguson During United Table Quiz
