Town boss Kieran McKenna says he’s not given any thought to this week’s links with the management vacancy at Scottish Premiership champions Celtic.

McKenna is currently the bookies’ favourite to take over at Parkhead following Brendan Rodgers’s departure, a third Northern Irishman, Martin O’Neill, having taken over in the interim and understood to have backed the Blues manager to be the long-term successor.

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. “Of course, we all grow up as football supporters. I think people who are lucky enough to work in the game and have different affinities with different clubs. But as I said, I’m really privileged to be in the position I am. 
 
“I know the size, the significance and the history of this football club as well, and I think when you’re in the honoured position to manage this football club, there’s no time or no space to think or discuss any other football clubs, only doing your very, very best in the role that you’re in.”

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. 
 
“You look outside and you can see a lot of cranes and work going on out there [on the new training ground]. And this probably represents every part of the football club. So I work as if I’m always going to be the Ipswich manager. 

“I know in reality I won't be. Maybe at some stage in the future I won’t be for whatever reason, but it never detracts from every day trying to do the right thing for the long-term of the club. And that’s where my focus is.”

It’s understood that the Blues would be due very significant compensation, £5 million, according to some reports north of the border, should they approach Town for McKenna, as well as presumably having to match the 39-year-old’s wages after he signed a very lucrative new contract in the summer of 2024, although with his salary having dropped following relegation.

Asked whether there is an understanding that if an offer came in from another club he would be able to talk to that interested party, McKenna said: “These things are usually contractual. I don't think there are many unofficial handshakes or anything like that.
 
“I think in every manager’s contract, there are contractual things. I couldn’t even tell you what mine are, to be honest. If I did know, I wouldn't tell you, but I don’t know what they are. It’s not my focus.”

Asked whether he was surprised that O’Neill returned to Celtic, McKenna added: “It’s not something that I followed greatly. I used to coach Martin’s nephew, which is my closest link to Martin O’Neill, Rory Fallon [not the former Town loanee], who was a very good footballer and no other big links there. So I’ve seen he got a good result last night. Other than that, it’s been trying to get ready for QPR.”

Pressed further on whether Celtic were a team he followed when young and whether he follows them now, McKenna said: “Again, as I said, of course, it’s a really big football club. 
 
“Growing up, again, we all have our affinities. I don’t think everyone has to go around and announce what they were, the clubs that we support, and the clubs that we follow. But, of course, it’s a really big football club. 
 
“But again, we’re in a really busy, really important stage of the season, going into international next week with three big games. So I haven’t watched a whole lot of football this week.

“I didn’t watch the Carabao Cup during the week or too much else, apart from all the QPR’s games this season, really.”

When it was put to him that many fans would be happy for him to stay at Town forever, McKenna joked: “Maybe not all of them!”

If a club came in form him would he turn them down, as it stands? “I think there’s been a fair few instances over the last few years, some public, some not public, and there’s been interest from different clubs, which happens when you go well.

“I think that I’ve shown that I’m really respectful and grateful to be the manager of this club, really committed to the project here, committed to the people here, and want to do really well for this club and try and build it up over the long term. I’d like to think that’s been pretty clear over the last few years.

“Again, I know I won’t be the manager here forever, for one reason or another, but I’m certainly fully focused on the staff at hand, both in the short-term and the medium and long as well.”

Does the speculation regarding Celtic suggest that Town are still on track, despite the current league position?
“I don’t think there’s a link between the two,” McKenna reflected. “The season is what it is at the moment. We knew it was a going to be a challenging season. We then had an even more difficult summer than we expected in terms of turnover, so we know it’s almost a brand new team that we’re trying to build with a talented group, but a new group to the club, in many instances to the league, and we’ve got a big challenge on our hands here.

“I know where we’re at in the project here, doing some things well, some big areas for improvement still, which is natural and where we’re at.

“I think that’s separate to any other situation and the scale of the challenge here means that I can’t afford to take my mind off of that or step down in concentration at any point.”

McKenna having spoken about the competitiveness of the Championship, it was put to him that the Scottish Premiership isn’t viewed quite the same way.

“It’s not a point that was making or considering, to be honest,” he said. “As I say, I’ve not considered anything outside of doing the best job here. Every division has its ways, has its bigger clubs, has its smaller clubs.

“It’s not an opinion, I think it’s pretty factual that in the Championship, the gap from the top to the bottom is really small and it’s one of the more competitive divisions in European football.

“But there are other really good divisions, other really good clubs all over the world. My focus is just on the here and now.”

McKenna says he doesn’t have time to pay too much attention to other leagues full stop.

“I’ve not got too much time to watch Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga, Scottish Premier League, Pro League, any other leagues at the moment,” he continued.

“We’re in a 46-game season here and we’ve got a lot of games, so 95 per cent of my football watching at the moment is in the Championship, so I wouldn’t care to give too many opinions on any other leagues at the moment.”

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 15:50 - Oct 30 Not quite the response he gave to put to bed the Rangers link is it? Lots of talk this time about not being here forever whilst being respectful that he is in the Ipswich job right now. There will be many who take this as a he’s not leaving, but I still think there is something in this. Celtic are a big club, so I wouldn’t blame him if he wanted to go. Several reports (albeit in papers) suggest the club won’t stand in his way. Will be interesting to see how this plays out.

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TheresOnly1JimmyJuan added 15:51 - Oct 30 Can't wait for darkhorse's essay of fiction
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BlueArmy999 added 16:03 - Oct 30 We’ve got super Kieran McKenna …. First time in his Ipswich stint were he has come under some scrutiny. Largely from deluded fans who think we have the god given right to smash the league and win every game. Yes we have arguably the best squad in the division, doesn’t give you the right to win anything. The new squad is still gelling, partnerships are still forming and developing. What we don’t need is booing when players miss place a pass or when we pass out from the back, that’s how mckenna and the staff want them to play, we need to leave the woolfys and burgess’s of the world in the past and work with what we’ve got and for god sake support the players who wear that shirt. McKenna is the best manager this club has had in a long long time, I’d rather McKenna on our side than against us, our season is still alive and cooking, some so called fans acting like we’re bottom of the league. At times we’ve played some really good stuff, in McKenna we trust!

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NorthStandOracle added 16:11 - Oct 30 @bluearmy999 absolutely concur with your assessment. McK is a fantastic manager and he will turn us round. This season is not done. Get behind the team. Amount of moaning on Tuesday and Saturday when the score was still 0-0 was incredible.
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StowTractor added 16:19 - Oct 30 jas0999 We might not stand in his way but we wont play this quite like the Morsy transfer in the summer. We will want the full release clause compensation due, plus that for his coaches too, assuming he wants to take them all with him, if & when he goes. So the final fee to include the bulk of the coaches is more likely to be nearer to £10m than £5m. Ashton wont want him to go mid season but clearly there is a possibility that if we don't go up this season he might depart one way or another this summer. MA might see "selling" him to Celtic now makes better business sense than sacking him in the summer *& having to pay him compensation. Also it would be a nicer way to part company than having to sack someone who has become his fried over the last 4 years. Personally I would be very happy with him being Ipswich Manager forever, regardless of the outcome this season, Ashton might agree, but doubt the American owners will see things the same way IF we are still a Championship club next season.

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BotesdaleBlue added 16:21 - Oct 30 Whatever McKenna says in response to the various Celtic questions (all asking basically the same question but in a different way), may potentially be interpreted in different ways by fans. It's the natural fan reaction in a way, to seek and try to define every nuance of his responses and look for meaning in every utterence, but where does that get us? All we can do is sit and wait and let thing thing play out. I for one, fully believe in the integrity of KMc, and would be really gutted if he were to depart at this juncture.

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StowTractor added 16:21 - Oct 30 friend not fried
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anditractor added 16:28 - Oct 30 Totally agree with bluearmy999. All new teams take time to gel. We have setbacks but so do others. We havn't been that bad this season so far as some people might think do come on and get behind this team. In McKenna I trust
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Bazza8564 added 16:35 - Oct 30 Celtic is a big club but their managers wage structure is half of what KM is on here, and he has a huge release clause, probably £10m plus given his previous contract had a £6m release. I just don't see it. Martin Oneill will end up on a season's contract, he loves and knows the club, and won his first game 4-0 yesterday. Whilst KM is under a bit of scrutiny at present, thats part and parcel of the game. We win our game in hand we are level on points with the play off already. Let's face it, we are 1/4 of the way through the season. we should be 100% looking at a win at QPR and then another home game

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pensionerblue added 16:52 - Oct 30 The suggestion that Celtic are ‘a big club’ is an absolute joke. They are well capable of beating most of the Scottish Premier League clubs that are at the best Div 1 or 2 standard but they are certainly not up to it as evidenced by their results against the teams from Europe. IMO they would struggle in our Championship. Not an attractive proposition or challenge for KM to give a second thought. He will succeed with us - just keep faith and support our boys.

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Keanos_Barmy added 17:11 - Oct 30 I'm sure the vast majority of fans desperately want KMcK to stay, you only have to look at what he's achieved in just four years. Remember the negative atmosphere and despondency that preceded his tenure. IMO he's worthy of a better job than Celtic. How many matches a season would test him? A run in European competition maybe, but given the standard of the week in week out fixtures it must be difficult to put a squad together that can raise their game for Europe. And I don't consider £5m to be 'very significant compensation'. To put it into perspective, we are due to pick up £3m for Ali Al Hamadi at the end of the season.

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virginblue added 17:14 - Oct 30 He can’t win can he. He’s said he’s not given it any thought and people are still on his back. If he’s not thought about it why would he have anything else to say. Ludicrous from whoever was asking the questions as well. He answered, move on rather than keep trying to create a story.
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carlo88 added 17:30 - Oct 30 If he does lose his job here he could always consider joining the Diplomatic Corps..
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:31 - Oct 30 Glad to see some sensible comments on here. McK won't be going to Celtic any time soon, and I'm very glad about that. Let's get on with our job, which is supporting the team. COYB!
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muccletonjoe added 17:32 - Oct 30 If he wanted to put an end to it " I have not given any thought to celtic because I won't be going there" would have done the job a treat.
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Cafe_Newman added 17:51 - Oct 30 TFFT
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johnwarksshorts added 18:18 - Oct 30 I take from his interview that he's fully committed to ITFC. Which suggests he's staying put and I'm so happy unlike some McKenna doubters.
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TimmyH added 18:28 - Oct 30 McKenna as another poster mentioned a week or so back has 'credit' in his bank before ever considering if he's now not up to the job which I agree with but to me this season is more important than last season in which was always going to be a struggle (saying that the sides promoted last season are doing okay so far). History tells us Ipswich don't do 'bouncing' back up, if so we could be years in this league again. We must not forget that under his helm last season we had an unenviable club record 9 straight home losses and only 1 away win so far in 2025. Yes he did supremely well with the back to back promotions but since...questions about tactical and formation nuance.

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