Kieran McKenna says his present focus is solely on Ipswich within the brief, medium and long-term amid hyperlinks to the Celtic job – and has revealed there was no method from the Scottish champions.
Sky Sports activities Information revealed this week that McKenna is likely one of the candidates to switch Brendan Rodgers as Celtic’s everlasting supervisor. The Irishman is beneath contract at Portman Highway till 2028 and Sky Sports activities Information understands Ipswich don’t wish to lose their boss.
Talking for the primary time since these rumours surfaced, McKenna has admitted that no method has been made to him – and he has not thought in regards to the Celtic emptiness.
“It’s not something I’ve given any thought to,” mentioned McKenna forward of Ipswich’s Championship sport with QPR on Saturday. “It’s not where any part of my concentration is this week to be honest.
“I do know I’ve bought a very particular job right here at a particular and large soccer membership and one I’ve an incredible affinity to.
“And we’re in a very essential season and stage of the season. Now we have a giant week developing, three huge video games beginning with QPR.
“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.”
Requested if an method 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’ll be right here endlessly, I’ve performed because the first day I used to be right here. I’ll attempt to do the whole lot for the long-term good of the soccer membership.
“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 activities Information understands that whereas Ipswich wouldn’t stand in McKenna’s manner if he expressed a want to go, it could require a compensation price of round £5m to get him.
Requested about these phrases, McKenna mentioned: “These things are usually contractual. I don’t think there are many unofficial handshakes.
“In each supervisor’s contract there are some contractual issues, I could not even let you know what mine are to be trustworthy. If I did know, I would not let you know however I do not know what they’re! It isn’t my focus. My focus is simply on the [training] session this morning.”
Ipswich City supervisor Kieran McKenna has been linked with the Celtic job
It isn’t the primary time McKenna has been linked to a job away from Portman Highway. 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 within the house 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,” mentioned 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 prefer to suppose that is been fairly away from the previous couple of years. I am definitely targeted 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.
“All of us develop up as soccer supporters, I feel persons are fortunate sufficient to work within the sport and have affinity with sure golf equipment,” said McKenna.
“However I am actually privileged to be within the place that I’m. I do know the dimensions, significance and historical past of this soccer membership 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.
“In fact [Celtic] is a very huge soccer membership. All of us have our affinities, I do not suppose everybody has to go spherical and announce what we have been and the golf equipment that we help and observe. However it’s a very huge soccer membership.
“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.”
Requested what he considered Celtic’s choice to nominate Martin O’Neill as interim head coach, McKenna mentioned: “It isn’t one thing I’ve adopted vastly. I used to educate his nephew, that is my closest connection to Martin O’Neill! No different huge hyperlinks there.
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Celtic interim boss Martin O’Neill says his facet
“I saw they had a good result last night – other than that, it’s trying to get ready for QPR.”
Ange impossible to return to Celtic
In the meantime, Ange Postecoglou may be very unlikely to grow to be the following Celtic boss, Sky Sports activities Information understands.
The membership had been eager to discover the thought of a return for the Australian – however Sky Sports activities Information believes the curiosity will nearly definitely not progress presently.
Membership Brugge boss Nicky Hayen is one other supervisor Celtic have been monitoring for a while and, final night time, he didn’t rule out the potential for becoming a member of Celtic when requested by reporters.
Chatting with Sporza after their 6-1 win over Eendracht Aalst, Hayen mentioned: “I’ve said before that I know I’m on lists, although I don’t know which ones.
“So long as nothing is concrete, I needn’t learn about it. I am comfortable right here and I wish to work arduous to win my twentieth nationwide title. That is nonetheless my aim.”
Pressed again on the Celtic links, he said: “By no means say by no means in soccer, however I am comfortable right here. So long as you could have mutual belief between the membership and me, there’s nothing mistaken.”
Former Celtic striker Robbie Keane and ex-coach Damien Duff are additionally within the body and being assessed. Each Irishmen have sturdy ties with principal shareholder Dermot Desmond.
Keane is presently supervisor of Ferencvaros, the place he has received the Hungarian title final season. He additionally received the Israeli league the season earlier than, with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Duff was extremely rated as a coach at Celtic and left the membership in 2020 to grow to be assistant supervisor of the Republic of Eire.
He went on to handle Shelbourne and received the League of Eire in 2024, earlier than leaving earlier this 12 months.
In the meantime, Wales boss Craig Bellamy – who performed for Celtic in 2005 – and Bodo/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen are amongst different coaches the membership admire and are being thought of as targets.
