Newcastle United could rival Celtic for manager if boss decisions made but 'huge compensation' hurdle emerges
Celtic and Newcastle United may be circling the same gaffer.
Newcastle United may share the same managerial problem as Celtic - with both clubs putting a prospective gaffer on their raider.
Matthias Jaissle’s underwhelming start to life at the Premier League side has put him under early pressure and already talk of the long-term is rife. Celtic opted to bring Martin O’Neill back permanently in the summer, but he is not expected to be a lengthy solution, and they will again be manager hunting sometime in the not too distant future.
Kieran McKenna is a highly-regarded coach who impressed at Ipswich Town before taking a break, after guiding them back to the Premier League. He has previous experience from clubs like Manchester United and is one manager Celtic like. Newcastle United could also make a move if they fire Jaissle but Ipswich are due major cash if McKenna does make a move and that could prove an issue.
Who will Kieran McKenna manage next?
Transfer journalist Alan Nixon said via Patreon: “Newcastle United have put Kieran McKenna on their wanted list - if Matthias Jaissle continues to struggle. McKenna was the alternative to German coach Jaissle when the Toon appointed a manager in the summer.
“And the former Ipswich boss is still available if his former club are paid huge compensation - a fact that is also known to his other admirers, including Celtic. Newcastle took Jaissle from Al Ahli in the summer, a surprise appointment but a coach known to them through their Saudi links.
“The Toon forked out for Jaissle but he is relatively cheap to sack should his style not work out on Tyneside. The Geordie hierarchy are also looking at their recruitment side to see if they can do better - and that may mean a possible change in that department. Newcastle recruited a lot of new faces in the summer to replace several recent exits and they have yet to gel.”
What happened during Celtic 1-0 Kilmarnock?
A Liam Scales goal secured a 1-0 Premiership victory for Celtic over Kilmarnock on Sunday, following from midweek success in the Europa League versus Besiktas. O’Neill said: “I’m delighted to have won the game after Thursday night's exertions. I thought that we were not at our very, very best. although, actually having said that, we created a number of good chances in the game and Sam Johnstone made a double save for us in the first 90 seconds of the game.
“Scales has been absolutely wonderful. I don't know what he's been like at the club before that – I'm sure he's a really fine player – but in my year in the game he’s been sensational for us. He's a centre-half, but sometimes I'm expecting him to play the ball like an inside forward or something like that, but overall he's been really terrific. He's come up with some big, big goals, but he's also come up with big, big moments defensively for us during my time.”