Celtic update involving Kieran McKenna will be music to Ipswich Town fans' ears | OneFootball

The Hoops' interest in appointing the 39-year-old is cooling off

Celtic's interest in appointing Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna as their next manager is cooling off.

In late October, Sky Sports News reported that the 39-year-old was among the candidates to replace Brendan Rodgers - who had resigned from the Scottish champions a day earlier.

It was then understood by The Daily Record that the Hoops would have to pay the Tractor Boys more than £5m for McKenna and his backroom staff if they wanted the move to happen.

This was perhaps enough to scare the Glaswegians off, who may have to stick with Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney on an interim basis for a while longer now - much to the delight of Town fans.

Celtic's interest in Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is waning

As per a fresh update from The Daily Record regarding Celtic's managerial search, McKenna's stock has fallen considerably in the eyes of the Parkhead board.

They note that whilst he had emerged as the early favourite when the vacancy first arose, the club's enthusiasm has noticeably dimmed.

Although it wasn't noted as the sole reason for the Hoops' interest getting smaller, the aforementioned £5m + associated with prising McKenna away from Suffolk has played a big role in Celtic's change of heart.

What is perhaps great news for Ipswich Town fans already, gets even better. With McKenna seemingly off the radar, Celtic's board has been exploring other managerial options - as per TDR report.

Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy is among several candidates apparently being discussed, along with Brian Barry-Murphy and Kjetil Knutsen - who are in charge of Cardiff City and Bodo Glimt respectively.

Former Celtic loanee and current Ferencvaros boss Robbie Keane has also been reportedly mentioned as a possible option.

So, given there's at least four other options for the Scottish side to consider, this development will undoubtedly bring huge relief to Ipswich fans.

Kieran McKenna can continue with his "focus" on Ipswich Town following Celtic update

When responding to the initial rumours linking him with the Celtic job, McKenna was clear that he was paying no attention to any outside noise.

Speaking ahead of Town's away match against QPR - which they eventually won 4-1 - McKenna said, "It’s not something I’ve given any thought to, or where any part of my concentration is this week, to be honest."

"My focus is just on Ipswich. We grow up with affinities to certain clubs, but there's no time to think or look at it," he added.

Ultimately, this update practically confirms McKenna can now carry on trying to get Town back to the top-flight with his full focus.

Since that win at Loftus Road, which was the club's second in a row, Ipswich have extended their unbeaten run to four games.

Seeing as though the Tractor Boys are now finding their feet, it perhaps would've been difficult to think McKenna would ever swap Suffolk for Glasgow at this stage, but the rest of the Championship has just seen similar with Middlesbrough and Rob Edwards.

McKenna used the word "affinities" to describe whatever connection he has with Celtic. Edwards has, of course, swapped Boro for a team he used to play for in Wolves - so there may well have been a chance that McKenna could have gone.

Yet he's previously been linked to the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton and not jumped ship, so it's fair to say McKenna's loyalty to Ipswich extends beyond any personal bias, like Edwards going to the West Midlands after four months in Teesside.