O’Neill has apparently recommended him for the job. 4/7 favourite and I feel this one has legs. He has been a bit off with the fans after recent games, not really come over to the north stand and he might feel that this is a step forward. Although the football isn’t a very high standard in Scotland, there is no doubt that Celtic are a massive club and could turn McKenna’s head
I was listening to talksport earlier and KM name came up there. Not sure who it was that mentioned him.
He’d be a good appointment for Celtic. I suspect they’d probably go for Ange (or somebody more readily available), as McKenna’s release clause might be too much for a fairly austere Celtic board. McKenna’s end goal is a top Premier League job. He’s had several opportunities to leave us for a more established Premier League side, so I’d like to think he’d see things through here and try to get us back up. If I was him, I’d possibly be regretting not taking the Brighton job when it was there for him. Celtic are in a bit of a mess and they’re not playing in a European tournament this season. For McKenna, it’s possibly a more appealing route to a job like Man United if you can prove you can manage and succeed at a bigger club like Celtic. Ultimately, if he’s confident he can get us up this season - then he’s probably better off staying. Despite what some morons on social media say, he’s got credit in the bank here and he’s got a team that - if and when it gels - should be capable of immediate promotion in a pretty open Championship season. Even if we don’t go up this season, I imagine he’ll still have Premier League coaching opportunities in the summer. He’s a big name, young British coach with a strong reputation in the game.
He is now favourite to go up to Scotland. Would be sad to see him go, after all he has achieved at Ipswich. I guess.the summer signings didnt go quite as he had hoped, both in timing and quality. We now have 2 strikers out.
It would be good timing for Town to go now if he is not going to stay for the duration of the long term project.
A also get the sense theres more substance to these rumours. Ultimately I can't see Celtic paying what we'd ask - as much as we like him he doesn't have a trophy or a league win on his CV. And as much as the shine has worn off since promotion to the premier league. This is definitely a careful what we wish for moment. Are we likely to strike gold again or cast our net back into the manager-merry-go-round pool again.
I think if the offer is on the table McKenna should take it because his stock is falling and he might not get a better opportunity. He would be extremely likely to win titles at Celtic and galvanise his reputation.
Good news boys, he is staying. KM at this afternoons presser: Asked at his pre-match press conference whether the Celtic job would be one he would have to think about should the Glasgow giants come in for him, McKenna said: “It’s not something I’ve given any thought to, and where any part of my concentration is this week, to be honest. “I know I’ve got a really special job here at a special club, a massive football club that I have and have built a great affinity to, and we’re in a really important season and a really important stage of the season. “We’ve got a big week coming up. Three big games starting on Saturday at QPR. So honestly, anything outside of that hasn’t touched my radar this week. My focus has been 100 per cent on the group here, helping the players get ready for the game.” Quizzed on whether an approach has been made, he added: “I’ve not had any of those conversations or anything of the like. My focus, again, has just been purely here.” Celtic is a club with which McKenna had an affinity growing up and he was asked what the Bhoys mean to him, whether they have a special place in his heart. “My focus is honestly just on Ipswich,” he reiterated. Do you see yourself being at Town for many years? “I work here as if I’m going to be here forever and I have done since the first day I was here. We try and do everything for the long-term good of the football club. “When I arrived, it was always going to be a long-term project. You hope that it’s going to be a long-term project you’ll be involved in, but for the club it was going to be a long-term project. We’re still very much in the middle of that.
Agreed - I don’t think there’s a better manager available. Say what you want about McKenna, but he’s our best manager in decades who has consistently demonstrated loyalty to our club that I don’t think many managers would in his position (both past and present). Yes, he’s got a good pay rise out of his achievements (and thoroughly deserved too) but he’s had several opportunities to move to bigger, more established Premier League sides. I didn’t see his comments today as completely turning down the Celtic interest. He showed a lot of respect to both us and them. While he stressed his commitment to us, I think he’s left the door open for an approach. As a boyhood Celtic fan, I can see the appeal from his perspective. Almost guaranteed silverware and likely managing in European competitions next season. It’s a real pressure cooker of a club though - but I’m sure he’d back himself there. I don’t think it’s the same guaranteed gateway job to a Premier League job as it arguably used to be. And I wonder if he feels there’s some unfinished business here by proving he can keep us in the Premier League? If he achieves that, he’ll be far more likely to get snapped up by a Manchester United or a Chelsea than by moving to Celtic and achieving the “bare minimum” of winning a league title. Regardless, Ashton will have his shortlist in case McKenna goes. Bringing in a manager to get our team up isn’t exactly beyond the realms of possibility - it’s a strong squad and likely an enticing job for many managers. Does Ashton try and capture lightning in a bottle twice by appointing a highly regarded coach in a first management role? Does he go for someone instantly available - maybe like Michael Carrick or Ole Gunnar Solskjaer that would also come with a McKenna connection and recommendation? Or does he opt for an experienced manager currently employed - maybe someone like Mousinho at Pompey? Whoever replaces McKenna will have big boots to fill.
