Why Would Kieran McKenna Come to Celtic? We Have Become a Poisoned Chalice

Kieran McKenna is exactly the sort of manager Celtic should be looking at. Young, ambitious, tactically progressive and with a track record of building a team capable of achieving more than people expected.

But there is one question I cannot get out of my head: why would he choose Celtic when his career could take him towards the biggest jobs in English football?

McKenna transformed Ipswich Town, guiding them from League One to the Premier League through three promotions. His reputation grew to the point where he was linked with Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton. He eventually stepped away from Ipswich in June 2026 to take a break from management, rather than immediately jumping into another job.

Now, with Celtic reportedly among his admirers, the opportunity to manage us could be tempting. We are a massive club, we can offer European football, passionate supporters and the chance to compete for trophies. But we need to be honest about the other side of the argument.

Have Celtic become a poisoned chalice?

Look at the treatment of our recent managers. Ange Postecoglou delivered domestic success and took us into the Champions League, yet eventually left for Tottenham. Brendan Rodgers returned, won trophies and then saw his relationship with the board deteriorate amid public disagreements over recruitment and the direction of the club. The fallout became so toxic that even the wider debate around Celtic turned into a battle over who was to blame.

Why would McKenna willingly walk into that environment?

He has already demonstrated that he can build something special at Ipswich. He has spoken about wanting attacking football, player development and a meaningful connection with a club and its community. Those are qualities we should be desperate to encourage.

But those ambitions require more than a manager with a good reputation. They require a board prepared to back him, recruit players who fit his system and give him the authority to build a team.

And that is where my concern lies.

If Manchester United came calling in the future, the appeal would be obvious. McKenna knows the club from his time coaching there, and managing one of the biggest clubs in world football would represent a huge opportunity. There is no guarantee he will get that job, but why would he rule out that level of ambition by taking on a Celtic project that could become a political battleground?

The reported £8 million compensation owed to Ipswich for his appointment is another obstacle, particularly if our board is unwilling to make a serious financial statement.

I would love McKenna at Celtic. I think he could bring fresh ideas, develop our younger players and give us a long-term footballing identity.

But we cannot simply expect a highly rated manager to arrive, fix everything and accept responsibility when the club’s wider structure lets him down.

Celtic should be a stepping stone to greatness, not a job managers think twice about accepting.

If we want McKenna, the board must sell him a vision, not just the size of the club and the expectation of winning trophies.

Because right now, the biggest question is not whether Kieran McKenna is good enough for Celtic.

It is whether Celtic are prepared to be good enough for Kieran McKenna.