'I'm not worried' - Cardiff City claim made as Middlesbrough and Celtic eye Brian Barry-Murphy raid | OneFootball

FLW's Cardiff City fan pundit has given his reaction to speculation linking head coach Brian Barry-Murphy with Middlesbrough and Celtic.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Cardiff City head coach Brian Barry-Murphy is reportedly attracting interest from Championship side Middlesbrough and Scottish Premiership giants Celtic.

After four years out of senior management following his exit from Rochdale, former Manchester City academy coach Barry-Murphy returned to the dugout with Cardiff in the summer following their relegation from the Championship.

Barry-Murphy has enjoyed an excellent start to life with the Bluebirds, with his side currently sitting third in the League One table, while he has also guided them to the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup, where they will face Premier League side Chelsea at the Cardiff City Stadium next month.

However, it seems Barry-Murphy's impressive work in South Wales has not gone unnoticed, and according to journalist Alan Nixon, the 47-year-old is one of the names on Middlesbrough's list of targets to replace Rob Edwards, while he is also believed to have admirers at Celtic, who are searching for a permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers.

While his exit has not yet officially been confirmed, Boro will soon be on the hunt for a new manager as Edwards prepares to controversially depart for Wolverhampton Wanderers after less than five months in charge, with a compensation fee agreed between the two clubs.

Martin O'Neill is currently in interim charge of Celtic after Rodgers' shock resignation last month, but while the 73-year-old could be offered the job until the end of the season, it seems the club are also considering alternatives, and Barry-Murphy is one of those in the frame, along with Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna and Wales boss Craig Bellamy.

When asked if he is worried Barry-Murphy's head could be turned by interest from elsewhere, FLW's Cardiff City fan pundit Matt Hall insisted he is confident the Bluebirds will be able to keep hold of their head coach, and he claimed that the Irishman would not be tempted by a move to either Middlesbrough or Celtic.

"Personally, I'm not worried at all really about those links," Matt told FLW.

"First and foremost, he's on a three-year deal, but I suppose Rob Edwards proved that a three-year deal doesn't mean that much anymore.

"However, Rob Edwards has got a history of walking out of a football club before a season is done. We haven't really got anything to go on with Barry-Murphy, but as a character and as a person, I think he's a better person than that. I don't think he would walk out on a project like this.

"All the reports over the last few years were that he was just waiting for the opportunity to go into management. He's been wanting to do it for a while.

"Nobody put their faith in him, but we are the club that have done that. He's moved his family down here, and they are settled here.

"If you look at clips of his wife celebrating away at Wrexham, it shows they have clearly bought in.

"As far as the club goes, if you were looking at Middlesbrough, they are a side with a lot of paid for players, Celtic are the same, so I think the academy side of things would benefit from getting Barry-Murphy because of what he does with young players.

"Obviously, Celtic have got a great academy. I don't know much about Middlesbrough's, but what he's got here is pretty much the perfect match for what he's looking for.

"I just don't see a world in which he leaves for either of those clubs.

"I think there will be a time where Barry-Murphy ends up being moved on, probably poached, but I don't think that will happen any time soon."

Brian Barry-Murphy could face huge Cardiff City call as Middlesbrough and Celtic circle

While it is still early in his tenure, Barry-Murphy has built up a strong connection with Cardiff supporters in recent months, so it would be difficult for him to walk away from the project he has started in South Wales, particularly with the club currently flying high in League One.

However, the Bluebirds have lost four of their last seven league games, so Barry-Murphy may have reservations about whether his side can sustain their automatic promotion push, and with a controversial owner like Vincent Tan in charge, there are question marks over how far he could realistically take the club, even if they were to secure a return to the Championship.

In contrast, Middlesbrough have a strong chance of reaching the Premier League this season, while Celtic would offer Barry-Murphy the opportunity to compete for domestic silverware and manage in Europe, so he would have a big call to make if either of those clubs were to make an approach.