Celtic boss Neil Lennon on John Kennedy link to Hibernian

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Celtic manager Neil Lennon has been discussing the possibility of John Kennedy to Hibs, and claims he’s going nowhere.

Kennedy has been working as part of the backroom team at Parkhead since 2010 when he became a scout for the club. Since then, he’s worked as the under-19 boss, development squad manager, first-team coach, and now assistant manager.

He has a wealth of experience to his name, but has never been a manager. Hibs, meanwhile, are looking for a new boss to take over from Paul Heckingbottom, who was sacked last week. Kennedy has been placed on a shortlist to become their new top man (Edinburgh Evening News).

And, as Lennon spoke to the BBC about his right-hand man, he claimed that the link doesn’t surprise him one bit.

“I don’t want him to go for a start.

“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.”

Kennedy link comes out of the blue

This feels like it’s just appeared out of nowhere, but Celtic could do without any sort of upheaval in the dugout. Kennedy has been a loyal servant to Celtic since his career-ending injury, and continues to be crucial to the Lennon regime.

Fortunately for Celtic, it would be a real surprise if this was pulled off. Harry Kewell was at Hibs’ 4-1 win at St Johnstone over the weekend. He would appear to be the front-runner as things stand. The former Liverpool man, however, has said Hibs is only “an option” (BBC).

Kennedy will one day move on, but there’s unfinished business at Parkhead. Like anyone connected to the club just now, 10-in-a-row must be firmly in the back of their mind. Staying for that is surely tempting enough for him.

He may also think he can one day land the top job at Parkhead if he continues working away in the background. It could be a stretch, but you never know.

When Brendan Rodgers left for Leicester City, Kennedy was the one of the only backroom staff members who stayed behind. That shows incredible commitment to the cause. Hopefully, it would be the same should Hibs come calling.

But nobody could grudge him this move either if it’s what he wanted. The Hibs managerial role is a huge job, and one that could seriously give Kennedy’s coaching career a big boost.