Andrew Kyle’s move to East Kilbride has once again raised questions about Celtic’s ability to turn highly-rated academy players into first-team footballers.
Young Kyle spent a season on loan at East Kilbride winning League Two and helping Kennedy’s side gain automatic promotion to Scotland’s third tier.
Kyle has now joined East Kilbride permanently after being released by Celtic, and Kennedy’s delight at capturing the youngster will raise more questions about the Academy set up.
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Kyle’s story is one Celtic supporters have seen repeatedly over the last decade. The defender progressed through Celtic’s academy ranks, played for the B Team and earned opportunities to develop while out on loan.
Yet when the time came to take the next step, it was East Kilbride rather than Celtic who offered him the platform to continue his career.
Whether Celtic were right to release Kyle will only become clear over the next few seasons. The academy has been littered with talented youngsters who never make the breakthrough at Parkhead.
However, Kennedy has effectively made Kyle a player Celtic supporters will now watch closely.
Celtic supporters will take notice of Mick Kennedy’s Andrew Kyle verdict
The East Kilbride manager was clearly buzzing after securing Kyle’s signature as he branded the former Celtic youngster an ‘exceptional talent’.
Kennedy told the Daily Record, “This is something we have been working on over the summer months but Andrew wanted to explore full-time opportunities first. We eventually got to the position where East Kilbride is the best place for him to be now after leaving Celtic.
“We are delighted to get him because he was our number one target in terms of a left-back. There were a few moments where it looked like it wouldn’t happen, but we held off a little bit because we were always hopeful we would get it over the line.
“I’m delighted to get there because he is technically very gifted, having been at Celtic. He has great athleticism, power and he’s an exceptional talent.
“I think he has a real chance and the next year is really important for him in the next stage of his career. If he does as well as I expect him to, he will have many suitors next season.”
Kennedy is clearly not talking about a squad filler or a development project. He is talking about a player East Kilbride wanted above anybody else for that position.
And if Kyle produces the kind of performances Kennedy expects over the next 12 months, Celtic supporters will inevitably question why he was released.
East Kilbride have got the player they wanted and Kyle has secured the senior opportunity Celtic could not offer him.
But if an ‘exceptional talent’ starts attracting bigger clubs within a year, the conversation about Celtic’s academy pathway will become difficult really uncomfortable for the backroom team.
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