(Credit: Imago)

Callum O'Connell

Mon 11 May 2026 15:20, UK

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Kieran McKenna has emerged as an ambitious target to become the next Celtic manager when Martin O’Neill steps down in the summer.

The 39-year-old has just led Ipswich Town to promotion into the Premier League and remains a highly thought-of candidate for the Celtic board.

He has emerged as one of a number of potential candidates as the board are keen to take their time over a decision, and they hope they could convince him to make the move.

However, former Man United assistant manager Mick Brown told Football Insider that McKenna is more likely to remain at Ipswich beyond the end of the season.

The Northern Irish boss has been with the Tractor Boys since 2021, has led them to three promotions, and is keen to establish them in the Premier League in a blow to Celtic’s plans.

Could Kieran McKenna take on the Celtic job?

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider on 6 May that McKenna is keen to stay at Ipswich and could turn down proposals to leave Portman Road.

That comes as Premier League rivals including the likes of Crystal Palace have also set sights on him and have considered making a move to lure him away.

Celtic’s next manager appointment is viewed as crucial ahead of what is set to be a busy summer, and they are eyeing ambitious targets as they must get it right.

“McKenna is going to be a target for Celtic,” Brown told Football Insider.

“He’s been linked with a lot of different jobs and he’s obviously very highly rated in managerial circles, plus he’s just led Ipswich back into the Premier League.

“I would suggest it might be difficult to get him out of Ipswich at the moment.

“He’s been there for years now, had multiple promotions and went down with them last year, so now he will want to get them established in the Premier League.

“He knows how everything works there, knows the players, the owner, the transfer policies and all of that so will he want to step away from that now?

“Celtic would be an attractive proposition, no doubt, and I’m sure he’s somebody they’ve looked at because they want to be ambitious with their new manager.

“But I feel it might be hard for them to convince him to leave Ipswich at the moment.”

Who else is on Celtic’s list of managerial targets?

The current focus for Celtic’s squad and O’Neill remains set on winning the Scottish Premiership as they remain just one point shy of league leaders Hearts.

However, as we approach the end of the season, work is stepping up behind the scenes to land their next manager with a number of targets still being assessed.

Football Insider revealed on 25 April that Thomas Frank is a target for Celtic as they hope to lure him up to Scotland following his departure from Tottenham.

The former Spurs boss was let go by the North London club in February as a result of their lowly league position, and they remain in a relegation battle.

However, there are multiple clubs across Europe and in the Premier League who could take a chance on bringing him in, while he is seen as an ambitious option for Celtic.