Celtic manager Neil Lennon has insisted that assistant manager John Kennedy won’t be leaving the club, despite being linked with the vacant Hibernian job.
Hibs sacked manager Paul Heckingbottom last week, and the club sit eighth in the Scottish Premiership with just two wins from their opening 12 games.
Kennedy is one of the favourites to take over at Easter Road, along with former Sunderland boss Jack Ross. According to the Edinburgh Evening News, he features on the club’s shortlist.
The former Scotland defender has been a member of the coaching staff at Celtic Park since 2014 and took over as assistant manager when Lennon returned to the club earlier this year, replacing Brendan Rodgers.
Responding to the rumours, Lennon said (via BBC Sport): “I don’t want him to go for a start.
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“It doesn’t surprise me, because he is a superb coach. It is a feather in a cap for John if that is the case, but as far as I’m concerned he won’t be going anywhere, he is very integral to what we are doing here.”
The club has won the Scottish Premiership title in every season since Kennedy was appointed, and they lead the pack again this season, only clear of Steven Gerrard’s Rangers on goal difference.
Celtic have just completed consecutive victories over Italian side Lazio in the Europa League that ensured their qualification for the knockout stages of that competition.
Indeed, Jonny Hayes thinks Kennedy has been a big part of the club’s success.
He said (via Edinburgh News): “It’s obvious John is going to be a manager one day. The work he does here, he’s been enormous behind the scenes.
“He was a great player but he’s an outstanding coach. He’s Celtic through and through as well, so I can’t see him leaving. At least I hope not.”
Still, with things going well at Celtic right now, the club had better hope they don’t lose such a key individual as they attempt to hold off Rangers to secure a ninth league title in a row.
Celtic fans, would you be sad to see Kennedy go? Let us know in the comment section below!
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