Next Celtic supervisor: Kieran McKenna says his focus is solely on…

Next Celtic supervisor: Kieran McKenna says his focus is solely on…

Kieran McKenna says his current focus is solely on Ipswich in the brief, medium and long-term amid hyperlinks to the Celtic job – and has revealed there was no strategy from the Scottish champions.

Sky Sports News revealed this week that McKenna is certainly one of the candidates to switch Brendan Rodgers as Celtic’s everlasting supervisor. The Irishman is under contract at Portman Road until 2028 and Sky Sports News understands Ipswich don’t need to lose their boss.

Speaking for the first time since those rumours surfaced, McKenna has admitted that no strategy has been made to him – and he has not thought about the Celtic emptiness.

“It’s not something I’ve given any thought to,” said McKenna ahead of Ipswich’s Championship game with QPR on Saturday. “It’s not where any part of my concentration is this week to be honest.

“I do know I’ve acquired a very particular job right here at a particular and big soccer club and one I’ve an excellent affinity to.

“And we’re in a very important season and stage of the season. We have a big week developing, three big games beginning with QPR.

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“Honestly, anything outside of that hasn’t touched my radar. I’ve been 100 per cent committed to the group here, helping players get ready for the game.”

Asked if an strategy has been made by Celtic to him, McKenna replied: “I’ve not had any of those conversations or anything of the like. My focus has been purely here.

“I work right here as if I’m going to be right here perpetually, I’ve performed since the first day I used to be right here. I’ll attempt to do all the pieces for the long-term good of the soccer club.

“I work as if I’m always going to be Ipswich manager. I know in reality I won’t be, for whatever reason.”

Sky Sports News understands that while Ipswich wouldn’t stand in McKenna’s approach if he expressed a need to go, it will require a compensation payment of round £5m to get him.

Asked about those phrases, McKenna said: “These things are usually contractual. I don’t think there are many unofficial handshakes.

“In every supervisor’s contract there are some contractual issues, I could not even inform you what mine are to be sincere. If I did know, I would not inform you however I do not know what they’re! It’s not my focus. My focus is just on the [training] session this morning.”

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Ipswich Town supervisor Kieran McKenna has been linked with the Celtic job

It is not the first time McKenna has been linked to a job away from Portman Road. When the Tractor Boys have been promoted to the Premier League in 2024, the 39-year-old was linked with Brighton, Chelsea and Manchester United all in the area of a matter of weeks.

“There’s been a fair few instances over the last few years – some public and some not public – where there’s been interest from different clubs which happens when you go well,” said McKenna.

“But I think that I’ve shown that I’m really respectful to be the manager of this club and really committed to the project and the people here and want to do really well for this job.

“I wish to assume that’s been fairly clear of the last few years. I’m actually centered on the job in hand for the short-term and the medium and long-term.”

‘We all have our affinities’ – McKenna on Celtic fan whispers

It has been rumoured that McKenna grew up supporting Celtic but the Ipswich head coach would not be drawn on those allegations.

“We all develop up as soccer supporters, I feel people are fortunate sufficient to work in the game and have affinity with sure golf equipment,” said McKenna.

“But I’m actually privileged to be in the place that I’m. I do know the measurement, significance and historical past of this soccer club as nicely.

“When you’re in a position to manage this football club, there’s no time or space to think or discuss any other football club, other than doing very best with the role that you’re in.

“Of course [Celtic] is a very big soccer club. We all have our affinities, I do not assume everybody has to go round and announce what we have been and the golf equipment that we assist and observe. But it is a actually big soccer club.

“But going into the international break we have three big games coming up, I haven’t had the chance to watch much football. I didn’t even watch the Carabao Cup or too much else apart from all the QPR games this season.”

Asked what he thought about Celtic’s resolution to nominate Martin O’Neill as interim head coach, McKenna said: “It’s not one thing I’ve adopted enormously. I used to coach his nephew, that’s my closest connection to Martin O’Neill! No other big hyperlinks there.

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Celtic interim boss Martin O’Neill says his aspect

“I saw they had a good result last night – other than that, it’s trying to get ready for QPR.”

Ange not possible to return to Celtic

Meanwhile, Ange Postecoglou is not possible to grow to be the next Celtic boss, Sky Sports News understands.

The club had been eager to explore the thought of a return for the Australian – however Sky Sports News believes the curiosity will virtually actually not progress at this time.

Club Brugge boss Nicky Hayen is another supervisor Celtic have been monitoring for some time and, last night time, he didn’t rule out the chance of becoming a member of Celtic when requested by reporters.

Speaking to Sporza after their 6-1 win over Eendracht Aalst, Hayen said: “I’ve said before that I know I’m on lists, although I don’t know which ones.

“As lengthy as nothing is concrete, I need not know about it. I’m blissful right here and I need to work arduous to win my twentieth national title. That’s still my objective.”

Pressed again on the Celtic links, he said: “Never say never in soccer, however I’m blissful right here. As lengthy as you’ve mutual belief between the club and me, there’s nothing fallacious.”

Former Celtic striker Robbie Keane and ex-coach Damien Duff are also in the body and being assessed. Both Irishmen have strong ties with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.

Keane is at the moment supervisor of Ferencvaros, the place he has gained the Hungarian title last season. He also gained the Israeli league the season before, with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Duff was extremely rated as a coach at Celtic and left the club in 2020 to grow to be assistant supervisor of the Republic of Ireland.

He went on to handle Shelbourne and gained the League of Ireland in 2024, before leaving earlier this 12 months.

Meanwhile, Wales boss Craig Bellamy – who performed for Celtic in 2005 – and Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen are among other coaches the club admire and are being thought of as targets.

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