Fresh update emerges on Middlesbrough and Celtic's interest in Brian Barry-Murphy - it's good news for Cardiff City | OneFootball

Middlesbrough and Celtic are reportedly interested in Brian Barry-Murphy, but Cardiff City have had no contact regarding their head coach.

Cardiff City have reportedly received no contact from Middlesbrough or Celtic regarding head coach Brian Barry-Murphy.

Journalist Alan Nixon revealed on Sunday that Barry-Murphy was one of the names on Middlesbrough's list of targets as they prepare to begin the search for a replacement for Rob Edwards following his controversial move to Wolves, while he is also believed to have admirers at Celtic, who are currently on the hunt for a permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers after his resignation last month.

Speculation about interest in Barry-Murphy from higher levels would undoubtedly have caused some concern at the Cardiff City Stadium, but according to Wales Online, Boro and Celtic are yet to make contact with the Bluebirds about the 47-year-old.

After four years out of senior management following his exit from Rochdale, former Manchester City academy coach Barry-Murphy took over at Cardiff in the summer following their relegation from the Championship, putting pen to paper on a three-year contract in South Wales.

Barry-Murphy has done an outstanding job with the Bluebirds so far, with his side currently sitting fourth in the League One table, just two points behind leaders Stockport County with a game in hand, while he has also guided them to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, where they will host Premier League giants Chelsea in a blockbuster tie next month.

Cardiff's promotion push has stalled slightly in recent weeks, with Barry-Murphy's men losing four of their last seven league games, including back-to-back defeats in their last two outings against Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool, but it seems the Irishman's impressive work overall this season has not gone unnoticed.

Cardiff City handed big Brian Barry-Murphy boost amid Middlesbrough and Celtic talk

Middlesbrough currently sit second in the Championship table, but the Teesside outfit have been rocked by Edwards' shock decision to walk out after less than five months in charge to join Premier League bottom side Wolves.

Barry-Murphy is one of the early names to have been linked with the job, along with Millwall manager Alex Neil, who dismissed speculation linking him with a move to the Riverside Stadium as "nonsense" when quizzed about the rumours on Saturday.

However, Boro are yet to firm up their interest in Barry-Murphy by making a formal approach, and it seems he is not their top target to replace Edwards, with Football Insider reporting on Monday that ex-Wolves manager Gary O'Neil is the club's number one choice.

It has been a disappointing season so far for Celtic, with the club currently sitting seven points behind leaders Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, while they have also struggled in Europe, but Martin O'Neill has won three of his four games in charge in all competitions since returning to the club on an interim basis last month following Rodgers' resignation.

It has been claimed that O'Neill could be offered the job until the end of the season, but the Hoops are also considering making a more long-term appointment, with Barry-Murphy becoming the latest candidate to emerge in the frame after previous links with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and Wales boss Craig Bellamy.

Despite Barry-Murphy having admirers among the Celtic hierarchy, the Scottish outfit have not initiated contact with Cardiff as things stand, and it appears they could be turning their attention elsewhere, with TEAMtalk reporting that they are preparing to launch a move for Bodo/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen.

Cardiff City will have big Brian Barry-Murphy relief after latest Middlesbrough, Celtic update

Barry-Murphy only signed a three-year contract with Cardiff in the summer, and he has built up a strong connection with supporters during the early stages of his tenure, so the club will be confident that they can keep hold of their highly-rated head coach.

However, Edwards' move to Wolves shows that contracts do not necessarily mean anything in the modern game, and it may have been tough for Barry-Murphy to turn down interest from Middlesbrough or Celtic if they were to make an approach, particularly with the Bluebirds' form beginning to falter in League One.

For now, there is no imminent threat of Cardiff losing Barry-Murphy, with O'Neil and Knutsen seemingly the front-runners for the Boro and Celtic vacancies respectively, but if he continues to impress, they will know further interest in his services is inevitable.