Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is a candidate for the vacant Celtic job, GIVEEMSPORT understands.
Although Ange Postecoglou has emerged as the bookies’ favourite, sources close to the former Celtic boss have downplayed a return to Parkhead to GMS.
Postecoglou has an emotional connection to the club where he won the domestic treble in 2022/23, and although he could come under consideration, it is not a given Celtic re-approach him.
Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney have been placed in temporary charge, but Celtic have already started the process to find a permanent successor after Rodgers shocking resigned from his role late on Monday night. Although there are challenges of finding a manager prepared to move mid-season, Celtic already have some succession planning in place due to the fact Rodgers’ contract was due to expire next summer and a renewal was not on the table.
Rodgers resigned after the 3-1 loss to Hearts at the weekend, a move that caught the Celtic board by surprise even though majority shareholder Desmond Dermot revealed the Northern Irishman’s “conduct and communication in recent months have not reflected [the club’s] trust”.
O’Neill and Maloney are prepared to remain in charge for as long as it takes to find a successor, but Celtic envisage their arrival to be short term.
Sources: Celtic Eyeing McKenna
McKenna led Ipswich to back-to-back promotions, but after being relegated from the Premier League last season, his side are now 12th in the Championship, and already nine points off an automatic promotion spot.
McKenna is under contract with the Championship club until 2028. There are several within the club that would fight to keep the former Manchester United coach, but it’s believed CEO Mark Ashton would take the final call and is disappointed by the Tractor Boys start to the season.
Celtic are currently preparing to take on Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday night, after their 3-1 defeat to Hearts at the weekend left them eight points off the top of the table with just two wins from their last seven games in all competitions.
The club will then be preparing to take on fierce rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final on Sunday afternoon at Hampden Park.
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