Crystal Palace have emerged as strong contenders to appoint Kieran McKenna as their next manager, with the club's Premier League status and financial resources giving them a significant edge over Scottish champions Celtic. The 40-year-old former Ipswich Town boss is a leading candidate to succeed Pierre Sage, whose position is under scrutiny after a difficult start to the season.
Palace sit 17th in the Premier League standings with just seven points from eight games, a run that includes a heavy 5-0 defeat to Brighton earlier this month. The team's struggles are showed by their goal difference, having conceded 19 goals while scoring only 9, leaving them with a net of -10. The search for a potential successor is now underway, with McKenna highly regarded after guiding Ipswich to promotion in the 2022-23 season before taking a break from management.
Financial advantage for Palace
A key obstacle for Celtic is the substantial compensation package required to prise McKenna from his former club, reported to be around £8 million. Football journalist Pete O’Rourke highlighted the financial challenge. "I think financially it could be an obstacle for Celtic in that respect because he was on a very good deal at Ipswich," O’Rourke said. "Clubs in the Premier League in England probably would be willing to offer him more than maybe Celtic would be, so they would have an advantage if they were to make a move."
Crystal Palace's willingness to meet that fee and offer a more lucrative contract places them in pole position. McKenna, a former Manchester United coach, is understood to be eager for a return to management at the highest level in England.
Pressure builds on current regime
The managerial speculation comes amid a concerning run of form for Palace. Their recent results show just one win in their last five league matches, a sequence that includes Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle. The team has conceded 19 goals in eight games, leaving them just above the relegation zone and 14 points adrift of leaders Manchester City.
The immediate focus turns to a difficult trip to face Tottenham on Saturday. With the pressure mounting, the decision on the dugout's future is becoming increasingly urgent for the Selhurst Park hierarchy.
The report in full is at glasgowworld.com
