Celtic are set to miss out on a move for Ipswich Town boss Kieran McKenna, who is highly sought-after following an impressive campaign at Portman Road.
Celtic news: Kieran McKenna set to stay in England
The 39 year-old has been strongly linked with some big jobs thanks to the remarkable job he has done in East Anglia, sealing back-to-back promotions from League One and the Championship in 2023 and 2024.
Despite being relegated from the top flight last season, The Tractor Boys have wasted no time bouncing back and have a huge opportunity to go straight back up, sitting second and two points clear of the chasing pack, also with a game in hand.
Celtic have been one of several suitors sniffing around in case he cannot take Ipswich up, but David Ornstein has now told The Athletic that McKenna will manage in the Premier League last season whether he achieves that feat or not.
“Given Ipswich’s trajectory and the interest from other Premier League clubs, I’d imagine he’ll be in the English top flight next season.”
Given Ipswich’s strong position with just a few matches remaining in the season, it seems likely the London-born Northern Irishman will be staying put in the summer, especially now Bournemouth have opted for a move for Marco Rose.
O’Neill vows for Celtic revenge against St Mirren
Martin O’Neill believes Celtic players should feel they have a score to settle with St Mirren in Sunday’s Scottish Cup semi-final.
In his first stint as interim boss this season, the 74-year-old guided the Hoops to the final of the Premier Sports Cup with a last-four win over Old Firm rivals Rangers.
He then made way for French boss Wilfried Nancy, whose disastrously short tenure included a 3-1 defeat by St Mirren in the final at Hampden last December.
He believes his players should be looking to make amends for their earlier cup disappointment.
“Yeah, I would hope so anyway,” said the Northern Irishman, who revealed the game comes too soon for right-back Alistair Johnston, who is back training following his recovery from a hamstring injury, and striker Callum Osmand, back from hamstring complaint. Defender Liam Scales is suspended.
“I would hope that they would want to try and retrieve that situation. It’s gone now, they’ve lost a cup final. So, yeah, there’s this chance now to try and do something about it.
“It would be lovely if we could do it, but St Mirren will take great confidence from the fact that they won the last time we played each other at Hampden, they won the cup and did very well last week.”
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The game comes in between the league split where Celtic sit third in the table, three points behind leaders Hearts and two behind Rangers.
With five crucial fixtures remaining, O’Neill noted the result against St Mirren could affect the run-in.
The former Leicester, Aston Villa and Sunderland manager said: “If we could win the game, it definitely would have a positive effect. No question about that.
“Quite the opposite I suppose really, it (defeat) could have a poor effect on us.
“But we’re going all out to try and win the game.”