JOHN KENNEDY was measured when he was asked about his own ambitions past this season and if he has a desire to be the next Celtic manager.
There’s no clamour or appetite among the majority of the support to see John take the job on a permanent basis, even if he turns out to do well in his short stint at the end of this horrible season.
The former academy Celt has refused to put his name in the spotlight or in peoples thinking as we move forward towards the end of the season.
Celtic have a Scottish Cup to defend, and the league is gone but there’s still the small matter of two derby games.
So when he was asked about the job, the interim boss was not giving the media any ammunition.
“I’m honestly not taking myself into consideration because if I start doing that, it becomes about me. It becomes about me showing myself and that might not be what’s right for the team and the club at this time. Everything I do is what I think is the right thing for now, and I’ll do that the best I possibly can.” John Kennedy told Celtic TV.
“In terms of auditioning, I’ve been here for a period of time. I know how the club works, how the people work within it. I’ve very much had a great time here, but for this time I’ve got to very much focus on what I need to do on a daily basis and leading into games, and do what I think is the right thing for everyone. And just park my own ambition, my own ego to the side and deal with what comes my way.
“I’ve spoken to both Peter Lawwell and Dermot Desmond over the last week and a bit and they’ve been great, very supportive.
“They understand the position we are in.
“Ultimately when things don’t go so well at a club this size then people go for victims, they go on the attack and ‘what’s the problem’. They are experienced guys, they have the club at heart and ultimately will make the right decisions for the club.
“Again, I’ve got to follow that as well and just continue to do that. And everybody needs to get on board with that at the club, and they have been.
“You can fall away, and feel sorry for yourselves and write everything off, but life goes on, the club goes on, and we’ve got to get back to the levels we know we are capable of.”
My personal wish would be for John to do a good job, bring the Scottish Cup home and then set himself up for a manager’s role elsewhere. There’s no doubt he has the potential but Celtic can’t afford to facilitate a manager who is at the very start of his career.
If he goes out, does well elsewhere, in the future, it would always be a possibility. Until then, we need a more experienced man and just a fresh perspective altogether. Kennedy has been part of this failed season and has to take responsibility for Celtic’s failings.
Celtic take on Dundee Utd this afternoon knowing if they drop any points, the league will officially be over.
