“All I want ….” Kieran McKenna gives his STANCE on Ipswich Town’s job as exit emerges following dropout of huge contender for Celtic job

“All I want ….” Kieran McKenna gives his STANCE on Ipswich Town’s job as exit emerges following dropout of huge contender for Celtic job

Kieran McKenna remains a manager admired by Celtic, and his stance on moving on from Ipswich Town has now emerged.

Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna remains on Celtic’s radar but it would take ‘a great deal of convincing’ to persuade him to leave the club, Sky Sports has said.

Ipswich Town are looking to return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. A meteoric rise from League One ended in a challenging one-year top flight stay, but the ITFC goal is to get back there.

Kieran McKenna is central to such a bid, with the highly-rated boss looking to lead his Tractor Boys to a third consecutive promotion. The Northern Irishman’s Portman Road success has seen him linked with numerous jobs over the years – including Manchester United and Chelsea.

Now though, amid recent reports that Celtic are eyeing him as a Brendan Rodgers replacement, Sky Sports has issued a positive update for Ipswich Town fans. They state it would take ‘a lot of convincing’ to get McKenna to leave the club, especially mid-season.

If his sizeable £5m compensation package was met and McKenna wanted to move though, ITFC would not stand his his way despite an obvious desire to keep him.

Kieran McKenna interest may never go away amid new Ipswich Town exit links

McKenna arrived at Ipswich Town highly rated after his role in the Manchester United backroom staff. And, his fantastic work in revolutionising the Tractor Boys since then has only seen his stock rise further.

Even after a relegation and an underwhelming start to the 2025/26 campaign, McKenna is never far away from links.

He quickly downplayed Rangers claims, and this latest update indicates he’s more than happy at ITFC. It means that Celtic – despite Ange Postecoglou’s drop out of the running narrowing the contenders – will have a tough task in landing McKenna.

A big fee is required for his services, and even if there is a willingness to pay it, the task of persuading him to move on from Portman Road is a big one. McKenna is under contract until 2028 after committing to a new deal last year.

What’s next for McKenna and Ipswich Town?

As more rumours circulate over McKenna’s future at Ipswich Town, the boss and his squad will be eager to remain focused on the task at hand. ITFC have a season to turn around, and they will want to do so as soon as possible.

Up next for the Tractor Boys is a clash with QPR away from home. The Hoops have enjoyed a solid campaign to date and boast some dangerous attacking players, so it is sure to be a tricky game.

Then, before the next international break, McKenna’s men face Watford on home turf and Swansea City away in another three-game week.