CELTIC LEGEND David Hay has made his prediction of who the next Celtic manager will be after Neil Lennon and it might come as a surprise to some but not others.

Singing his praises in today’s Evening Times, the Parkhead hero believes there’s a man at Celtic Park who’s tailor-made to become the next man in the hot seat.

The person in question is Celtic assistant manager, John Kennedy.

John has had his detractors over the years since taking up a coaching role with the club when his playing career was tragically cut short through injury. Celtic handed the defender a new role and he’s run with it ever since. The coach has worked under a multitude of managers and when Neil Lennon came back into the fold, he was pivotal in bridging the gap between Neil and the players and can be credited for his part in helping secure the treble treble.

The Celtic assistant has all the attributes to succeed as manager one day and David Hay is in no doubt John is up to the job – he’s just unsure how long he’ll have to wait.

“I have no doubt that he has what it takes to be the Celtic manager one day, and Neil Lennon, as well as one or two players recently, have been singing his praises. The trouble for John is that Neil Lennon doesn’t look like he will be going anywhere for a good long while yet.

“Luckily, he is a young man at just 36, so time is very much on his side. If he stays where he is, then there is every chance that when the time eventually comes for Neil Lennon to move on for whatever reason, he will be the man who assumes the mantle.”