Celtic-linked manager Kieran McKenna has issued an update on his future. The former Ipswich Town boss remains unemployed after walking away from his Tractor Boys gig.
McKenna won promotion with Ipswich for a second time in May, but he decided to walk away from the job after seeing his side relegated after the first promotion. Since then, McKenna has been out visiting different clubs and sports organisations, doing some research before diving back into his next job.
Recent reports have suggested that Celtic are interested in McKenna should Martin O'Neill leave his job at some point, but whether there is any truth to that remains to be seen.
In the meantime, McKenna has been speaking to The Guardian about his future and what he is looking for.
He said: "I wanted to give myself the best possibility to learn before taking on the next challenge. I'm always going to want to be somewhere where I can improve players, play attacking football and win games.
"But beyond that, I'm a manager who wants to enjoy having that connection with a club, a community, trying to build something memorable. It was a really special opportunity at Ipswich, and you want to do that again in your career. But you have to be ready to come in somewhere and get some short-term success as well."
“I had a lot of different opportunities to leave, could have left in many different circumstances really. But I was always aware I wanted to depart in the best way possible, with the club on a high, back in the Premier League and with a great chance to build for what will hopefully be a really successful period.”
McKenna would be an interesting appointment for Celtic. He is young, talented and wants his teams to play attacking football. But he is also a manager who may well have Premier League offers come the summer, so Celtic's chances of landing him may be limited.
Still, at least they know what he is looking for, and Celtic will be focused on Martin O'Neill for now. Until the veteran boss decides to walk away or the end of the season, whichever comes first, the Bhoys will likely put their managerial shopping on the back burner.
One would like to think Celtic are already doing their homework ahead of the end of the season, when O'Neill's contract expires, but that might be too much to ask of this board.
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