Kieran McKenna has been linked with Celtic job before, but the latest view from down south points elsewhere. The Ipswich manager looks more likely to end up in the Premier League than make a move to Scotland.
Ipswich’s place in the table explains that. They’re sitting second in the Championship and right in the middle of the promotion race. Their results have kept them there, and the way they play has caught attention.
McKenna has put together a team that can take control of games. They move the ball quickly through the middle and create chances without spending long spells defending. That has turned into points across the season.
If they go up, it changes the picture. A manager who leads a team into the Premier League doesn’t usually walk away straight after, especially when things are moving in the right direction.
Journalist David Ornstein was asked directly about McKenna’s future and where it might lie next season.
He said: (The Athletic), “Great question. Given Ipswich’s trajectory and the interest from other Premier League clubs, I’d imagine he’ll be in the English top flight next season.”
That view carries a bit of weight given who it’s coming from. Ornstein is known for having strong contacts and doesn’t say things lightly, which makes his comments stand out.
The wording is careful, but the message is clear. The interest in McKenna is coming from clubs in England, where his work has been watched closely.
From a Celtic point of view, it takes things further away from a name that had been mentioned before. It’s a different situation now.
Even if Ipswich don’t go up automatically, they’re still right in the play-off mix. That keeps them in the running and keeps his stock high.
Any move would need something to change. Right now, there’s nothing suggesting that.
The focus stays on Ipswich and the run-in. Promotion is there for them, and that will decide what happens next.
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