Celtic ‘have the money’ to overcome Kieran McKenna ‘hurdle’

Celtic FC is reportedly considering Kieran McKenna as a managerial candidate despite a significant compensation clause in his contract. Financial experts suggest the club has the resources to pursue him if the current manager steps down.
Why it matters
The report underscores the high financial stakes and competitive nature of professional football management in the Scottish Premiership.
Kieran McKenna, Manager of Ipswich Town, inspects the pitch prior to the Championship match between Southampton and Ipswich Town at St Mary's Stadium on April 28, 2026 (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
Celtic would not be deterred by the multi million compensation figure attached to managerial target Kieran McKenna if Martin O'Neill decides to step down during the international break.
There has even been reports that the compensation to Ipswich Town might not have to be paid at all but if it is you can imagine that Celtic would haggle on the price.
Kieran McKenna, Manager of Ipswich Town, acknowledges the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Charlton Athletic and Ipswich Town at The Valley on April 22, 2026 . (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Highly regarded McKenna has been heavily linked with the Celtic job once again in recent weeks.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in