Cardiff City manager Brian Barry-Murphy had been connected with the Celtic job prior to the appointment of Wilfried Nancy, and with the Frenchman’s resignation after just over a month, Bluebirds fans will have the same concerns as Ipswich Town fans about their head coach.

Following Cardiff’s humiliating relegation from the EFL Championship last season, Irish head coach Barry-Murphy was picked to lead the club into the third tier.

Erol Bulut, Omer Riza, and Aaron Ramsey were unable to keep the Bluebirds afloat, relegating the club to the third tier of English football for the first time since 2003.

As we approach the halfway point of the League One season, Cardiff is leading the standings, three points ahead of second-place Lincoln City and with a game in hand.

With a limited budget and depending heavily on players who were relegated last season and young products, the Irishman has done an outstanding job thus far, and the news that Wilfried Nancy has been quickly sacked from his role at Celtic will not be welcomed by many Cardiff fans.

Barry-Murphy, along with Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna, had previously been connected with the top post in Glasgow before Nancy’s appointment, and with his resignation confirmed, Cardiff fans will be hoping that murmurs of interest in their manager do not reappear.

Brian Barry-Murphy was previously associated with the Celtic post before the appointment of Wilfried Nancy.

Fortunately for Cardiff, Celtic quickly announced the return of Martin O’Neill for the remainder of the season, having served as interim manager between Brendan Rodgers’ departure and Nancy’s hiring previously.

Indeed, Barry-Murphy is unlikely to travel to Scotland for the rest of the season, since he expects to steer Cardiff back to the second tier and has previously stated that he intends to stay in Wales.

When asked about perhaps leaving Cardiff for Celtic, Barry-Murphy replied, “I feel genuinely privileged to be here. “I hope to stay here for a long time, if they will have me.””I am truly grateful to be here.”I’m actually grateful to be in Cardiff. The dressing room I’m working in is fantastic. “The city and club are fantastic for me.”

However, it is not just Celtic who have taken note of the Irishman; French club Strasbourg, which runs under the same ownership model as Chelsea, has reportedly shortlisted Barry-Murphy for the vacant position at the club following Liam Rosenior’s move to Chelsea.

Cardiff fans will be hopeful that their head coach continues to express his intention to remain in the Welsh capital for as long as he can keep the Bluebirds soaring, with the club in genuine contention for an immediate return to the Championship under his leadership.

Cardiff City must do all possible to retain the services of Brian Barry-Murphy amid rumoured Celtic interest.

As Barry-Murphy’s stock rises, Cardiff’s goal of keeping him at the club becomes increasingly tough.

If the Welsh team fails to achieve promotion, it is highly doubtful that Barry-Murphy would stay at the club for another season, thus it is truly promotion with the Irishman, or League One football game without him next season.

With Celtic announcing O’Neill’s return, Barry-Murphy will not be joining The Bhoys this season. However, with O’Neill unlikely to remain in the Celtic Park dugout beyond the summer, interest in the Cardiff manager may reappear at the conclusion of the season.

Indeed, if Cardiff can weather the storm for Barry-Murphy, there is a high chance he will lead them back to the Championship at the first attempt, leaving the question of whether any other team will be able to sign him in the summer.

Cardiff fans, like Ipswich fans, will be hoping to keep McKenna, who has promotion hopes of his own.

For the time being, Barry-Murphy appears to be staying in Cardiff, much to the delight of Bluebirds fans, who will be hoping he is the man to lead them back to the second tier.