'From what I'm hearing' - Celtic ‘have the money’ to overcome £8m Kieran McKenna ’hurdle’
Celtic will not be deterred by Kieran McKenna’s £8million compensation clause if they decide to target him as Martin O’Neill’s managerial replacement.
That is according to former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, who believes that the former Ipswich man is also likely to have his eyes on a return to the Premier League.
McKenna has been heavily linked with the Celtic job once again in recent weeks, and was even seen at Parkhead for the 1-0 defeat to Rangers last weekend.
Wyness believes that Celtic are perfectly capable of paying McKenna’s hefty compensation clause, but would need to be adamant that he was the right man in order to do so.
The 40-year-old has that clause in his contract after he opted to step down from his role at Ipswich this summer, in order to take a break from football altogether.
There are already suggestions that he could be keen to bring that break to a close in the coming weeks, but Celtic would have to stump up the cash.
Kieran McKenna’s interest in Celtic job doubtful
Aberdeen’s former chief Wyness – who served as CEO at Pittodrie between 2000 and 2004 and now runs a consultancy business advising elite clubs – believes that McKenna may have his heart set on a bigger opportunity than Celtic for his return to football.
The Northern Irishman had been linked with top Premier League jobs prior to his decision to resign following Ipswich’s promotion back to the top flight.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, Wyness explained how McKenna’s compensation clause is a “hurdle” that Celtic could feasibly overcome.
“Well to me, McKenna would have been a no-brainer, but again I'm hearing that despite the fact he's left Ipswich, there is still a clause that if he takes employment for a year, there would be an £8m compensation payment,” he said.
“Now £8m for Celtic is a lot to pay for a manager. They may be forced into paying it, and they've got the money to do it. But it does seem as though that's something that is a bit of a hurdle for them.
“To be honest, I'd be surprised if he would take it because I think he's got a chance of getting a Premier League slot at some stage. So it may not be him, but certainly experience rather than bringing somebody from the MLS, which they tried before with significant failure.”
Martin O’Neill playing ‘cunning game’ with Celtic board
Wyness previously told Football Insider earlier this week that he does not expect O’Neill to resign from his position, despite the 74-year-old suggesting that he will consider his future.
Instead, the Scottish businessman expects the veteran boss to put the ball back in the court of the Celtic board when it comes to deciding his future.
Wyness believes that O’Neill is playing a “cunning game” with the club hierarchy, knowing that his position as a club legend will make it very difficult for them to sack him.
Nevertheless, the Northern Irishman’s position is firmly up in the air at the moment, and will continue to be until the club make a definitive decision.