---
title: "Celtic: John Kennedy still in the running"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-john-kennedy-still-in-the-running/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-05-12T10:35:17Z"
modified: "2021-05-12T12:19:07Z"
---

# Celtic: John Kennedy still in the running

**Celtic interim boss John Kennedy is still thought to be in the running for the permanent managerial position.**

### The Lowdown: Kennedy in the dark

Kennedy, who has been in [temporary charge since February following Neil Lennon’s resignation](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11787/12143403/neil-lennon-resigns-as-celtic-manager-with-club-18-points-behind-rangers-in-scottish-premiership), is thought to be [in the dark (via Football Insider)](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-big-update-on-kennedy-future-at-celtic-after-manager-talks/) regarding his future.

A Celtic source admitted this week that the 37-year-old “[hasn’t got a clue what the club are doing](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-big-update-on-kennedy-future-at-celtic-after-manager-talks/)” in regards to off-field appointments.

Eddie Howe has been the main man [linked](https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/14561258/celtic-eddie-howe-confirm-manager-bournemouth/) with the role, but despite [verbally agreeing on a move back in April](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-howe-reaches-verbal-agreement-with-celtic-after-london-talks/), a deal is still yet to be announced.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”355506″\]

### The Latest: Interim boss remains in the frame

According to a recent report from [Give Me Sport](https://www.givemesport.com/1689963-celtic-exclusive-john-kennedy-not-of-the-managerial-race-yet), Kennedy, who likes to play a [4-4-2 diamond system](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/john-kennedy/profil/trainer/12714), ‘remains in the frame for the Celtic job’ – an eight-word admission that could mean the full-time job is still up for grabs and a deal for Howe is not close.

They claim that the longer the uncertainty goes on regarding an external candidate, the more chance Kennedy has of landing the role on a full-time basis.

[Celtic updates!](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/celtic-updates-3/)

### The Verdict: A huge risk over Howe?

Even if a proposed move for Howe dramatically falls through between now and the summer, we don’t think Kennedy should be the man for the job going forward.

He could prove to be a helpful assistant to any new boss, as he has [held numerous job titles at Celtic Park](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/john-kennedy-mix-eighth-celtic-24003184), and perhaps he could be a great manager in the future, but with just a handful of games in charge so far, it doesn’t seem as if he has the required experience to lead a tricky Hoops rebuild.

Howe’s representative admitted that the 43-year-old won’t return to management until the summer at the earliest, so the club’s search for a new boss may still take time.

***In other news: Hoops keen on in-demand British defender, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-hoops-keen-on-fleetwoods-josh-feeney/).***