Ipswich Town supporters have had a wild 24 hours, with a double dagger from the South Coast threatening to destroy their season and future ambitions.

Yesterday afternoon, AFC Bournemouth head coach Andoni Iraola said that he will leave at the conclusion of the season, with Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna among the leading candidates to succeed him.

To make matters worse, the Tractor Boys were defeated 2-0 by relegation-threatened Portsmouth, missing out on a chance to construct a five-point lead over promotion rivals Millwall.

Understandably, Iraola’s revelation has sparked intense debate, particularly over whether McKenna should leave Portman Road for the Vitality Stadium, and the pundits have had their say.

Ally McCoist questions Alan Brazil about Ipswich Town and AFC Bournemouth comments.

This morning, much of the conversation has focused on Iraola, including where he might go and who might take his position on the South Coast.

On talkSPORT, Ally McCoist and former Ipswich player Alan Brazil debated whether McKenna should leave Ipswich for Bournemouth, but the two disagreed on which team is bigger.

Katie Shanahan, the host, asked: “If Kieran McKenna is promoted at Ipswich, do you think he’ll stay?”

Brazil responded: “Unless a big club come in, yes, because we’ve got American backers and there’s money there.”

McCoist responded: “That’s very much as if you’re saying that Bournemouth are not a very big club?”

Brazil: “Well, they’re no bigger than Ipswich. What did Bournemouth win? You’re laughing, aren’t you?

McCoist: “Ooo, I didn’t say they weren’t.”

Brazil: “Ipswich is a larger club than Bournemouth.” Look, they’re a fantastic, welcoming club, but na na na.

Shanahan then asked the pair again if Ipswich were a bigger club than the Cherries, to which they replied predictably.

Brazil: : “Course it is, I don’t think, absolutely, UEFA Cup, Europe every year, yes!”

McCoist quipped, “We’ve touched a nerve there, haven’t we?”

Why Kieran McKenna’s Ipswich future could depend on promotion.

McKenna was unable to keep the Tractor Boys afloat when they returned to the Premier League last season, but he has managed to keep his name alive since then, hence the top-flight links.

The 39-year-old formerly worked under José Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Manchester United and has effectively adopted possession-based, dominating football during his four-and-a-half years at the East Anglia club.

While Ipswich spent a lot of money to get promoted to the top table, they also invested substantially in Championship players, which, while it didn’t improve their survival chances, did allow them to fight for a quick return.

Given the Northern Irishman’s playing style, it’s no surprise that Bournemouth is considering him as Iraola’s replacement, since he’d be able to carry on his legacy while also stamping his own character on the team.

McKenna’s decision could be influenced by two factors: whether the Cherries qualify for Europe at the end of the season and whether Ipswich is promoted to the Premier League.

Whatever happens, the 49-year-old has done an outstanding job in leading them from League One to the Premier League and possibly down again, but the lure of managing a well-run club like Bournemouth may be too enticing to let off.