Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna is one of the candidates to replace Celtic’s Brendan Rodgers, Sky Sports News understands.
Former Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou has also been linked with a return to the club. The 60-year-old is now unemployed after being sacked by Nottingham Forest after just 39 days.
Former Celtic manager Martin O’Neill and former player Sean Maloney are acting as caretaker managers, with Celtic facing Falkirk on Wednesday before facing Rangers in the Old Firm League Cup semi-final on Sunday.
McKenna, 39, has been linked with jobs at Manchester United, Chelsea and Brighton in recent seasons and spent 22 years guiding Ipswich to promotion to the EFL and their first Premier League campaign at Portman Road.
That season ended in relegation, with Ipswich finishing 12th in the Sky Bet Championship.
O’Neill said he intends to return to the club until a permanent manager is appointed and believes Celtic are looking for a “young manager with proven ability and proven ability”.
Sutton: Ange made a smart choice to replace Rodgers
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Chris Sutton has immediately reacted to the shocking news that Brendan Rodgers is stepping down as Celtic manager.
Chris Sutton said Mr Postecoglou was the “obvious choice” to replace Mr Rodgers at Parkhead.
“I think Ange Postecoglou is going to be a really smart pick. He was loved from the first round,” Sutton said.
“His brand of football was not well received in Glasgow and he is unemployed.
“It’s a very obvious choice, a good choice and it will bring a lot of positivity to Celtic, which they need right now.”
‘I had 10 minutes to decide’ O’Neill on ‘surreal’ return to Celtic
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Martin O’Neill says he is nervous but excited to return to Celtic as caretaker manager but it took him less than 10 minutes to say yes when asked to return to the club.
Manager Martin O’Neill has revealed he had “10 minutes to decide” whether to return to Celtic following Brendan Rodgers’ shock decision to resign.
The former manager returned to the Parkhead club for the first time in 20 years to take charge of the team on an interim basis while a search for Rodgers’ permanent successor takes place.
Former Hoops player Sean Maloney also joins Celtic, who play against Falkirk on Wednesday before facing Rangers in the Old Firm League Cup semi-final on Sunday.
Asked about his feelings, the 73-year-old said: “Nervous excitement.” “I want to do the best I can. I’m looking forward to it. I think so.”
“This is a position for which they are looking for a permanent manager. At the moment I have been called in to do the job. I am interim manager at the moment and that will continue to be the case.”
“I didn’t need to be told what was needed. Late in the afternoon, in the evening, I got a call from Dermot Desmond (Celtic’s majority shareholder) who told me that Brendan had resigned.”
“People were surprised by it. Everyone thought nothing was going to happen until the end of the season. They asked me if I could come down here and continue the process until they found a permanent manager. I had 10 minutes to make a decision, which I did.”
‘Toxic’ – How Rodgers’ relationship with Celtic’s board soured
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Celtic State of Mind podcaster Paul John Dykes explains the toxicity of clubs
The breakdown in Brendan Rodgers’ relationship with the Celtic board was brought to light with the sudden resignation of majority shareholder Dermot Desmond in an extraordinary statement.
Rodgers was accused of misleading fans over contract negotiations and the club’s transfer business, claiming Desmond’s “divisive” behavior had “incited hostility” towards the board and management.
Desmond said Celtic’s recent woes were due to “an individual’s desire for self-preservation”, with the Scottish champions already eight points behind league leaders Hearts, who missed out on Champions League qualification.
Mr Desmond accused Mr Rodgers of “encouraging a toxic atmosphere” at Celtic amid fan protests calling for his sacking.
Sky Sports details Desmond’s shocking comments and why their relationship soured.
Celtic’s upcoming fixtures
Falkirk (H) – Scottish Premiership – Wednesday Rangers (N) – League Cup Semi-Final – Sunday Midtjylland (A) – Europa League – 6 November Kilmarnock (H) – Scottish Premiership – 9 November St Mirren (A) – Scottish Premiership – 22 November – Live on Sky Sports
