Ipswich Town facing new Kieran McKenna fear - it involves Celtic FC after Brendan Rodgers exit | OneFootball

Celtic are searching for a new manager following Brendan Rodgers' resignation

Celtic are reported to be admirers of Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna as they search for a replacement for Brendan Rodgers.

According to The Scotsman, the Glasgow outfit are aiming to make a swift appointment for their next manager following Rodgers’ resignation on Monday evening.

Former Hoops boss Martin O’Neill was installed as an interim manager, so he will oversee their upcoming games until a decision is made on a permanent hire.

McKenna has earned a lot of praise for his work with the Tractor Boys, having guided them from League One to the Premier League with back-to-back promotions in 2023 and 2024.

While the Suffolk outfit were relegated back to the Championship last season, the Northern Irishman’s reputation within the game remains intact, and he is now being eyed up for a big job.

Celtic eyeing up Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna after Brendan Rodgers resignation

Celtic are reportedly admirers of McKenna, and are considering an approach for the Ipswich manager.

Rodgers departed earlier this week, leaving the Premiership side without a head coach ahead of their clash against Falkirk on Wednesday evening.

The Glasgow outfit are at risk of losing their grip on the league title, with a 3-1 loss to Hearts last weekend leaving them eight points behind the suprise leaders after nine games.

It is understood that Celtic are keen to make an appointment quickly, particularly due to their League Cup semi-final against bitter Glasgow rivals Rangers this coming weekend.

Ipswich are likely to demand a significant compensation package in order to release him from his contract, which runs until the summer of 2028, and it remains to be seen whether the Scottish side would be willing to pay that kind of fee to appoint the 39-year-old.

The Tractor Boys are currently 12th in the Championship table, albeit having played a game fewer than their rivals due to their controversially abandoned game with Blackburn Rovers, with their sights set on promotion back to the top flight.

Celtic move could be a poisoned chalice for Kieran McKenna

The Celtic job comes with a lot of pressure, especially with the Hoops now eight points adrift of Hearts in the table, and the reward for success may not be enough to convince McKenna to take on a job of this magnitude - even with European football on offer.

He has done great work at Ipswich, and he is fully embedded into the club at this stage, with everything revolving around him.

The Northern Irishman won’t have it so good at Celtic Park, where fans will be demanding results immediately and the expectation will be to win most games, and they also need to overturn Hearts' huge advantage in the title race.

McKenna has been linked with all kinds of clubs during his time at Portman Road, such as Brighton and Chelsea, so it will be hard to convince him that Celtic are the team he needs to leave this project for.