Celtic great Frank McAvennie has labelled John Kennedy “part of the problem” as he urged the Hoops to produce a total summer clearout of the backroom staff.
Kennedy is currently in interim charge until the end of the season. So far, the Celtic fans haven’t been impressed after a string of decisions that have left them disappointed. Kennedy has only won one of his three games in charge so far, and is already tainted by being Neil Lennon’s assistant manager in the previously toxic regime.
With a massive summer rebuild ahead of the club, the next appointment needs to be right. However, there are still question marks over what happens with Kennedy, even if he isn’t given the managerial gig.
And McAvennie believes the current interim boss needs to go one way or another.
As quoted by Football Insider, Macca said: “The club have kept it under wraps so far (the new appointment). I do not think John Kennedy will get it. He is not the right man for the job and that is no disrespect to him.
“He is part of the problem though because he has been there through this terrible season. Celtic need a clear-out. They need brand new management. The players need to go into pre-season with different people and fresh ideas. They need new players, a new manager and new coaching staff.
“I would personally like to see John go away and get a manager’s job where he can make mistakes. Celtic are too big. I know John, and he wouldn’t liven me up for a game. God, liven up.”
Frank McAvennie not wrong; John Kennedy at a massive Celtic crossroads
John Kennedy is at a major crossroads in his coaching career. The Celtic job is too big for him, and any chance he had of the gig at the start of his interim reign appear to have faded. Failing to beat Dundee United and Rangers didn’t do much for his chances.
It’s at the stage now where Kennedy has to think about what he wants for his long-term future. Does he want to be a manager? Or does he want to be a first-team coach? Is he satisfied being a man in the background or does he want to be his own number one?
If it’s the latter, he has to leave Parkhead and forge his own path. There’s no opening at Celtic for which he’s even remotely qualified to take on. Not with the scale of the job needing done. Yes, some will point to the fact Celtic appointed Lennon back in 2010 and he went on to have a successful first spell in charge. But Lennon profited massively from our rivals going bust. The challenge now is different.
If he remains at Celtic Park, there’s no guarantee he’ll be part of the first-team set-up. Celtic are under severe pressure to get a top manager in the door. They don’t come if they’re being told who’s going to be in their backroom setup.
Kennedy’s best hope if he stayed would be a role with the development squad. That is unless the new manager fancies him. But the truth is he’s done all that before. If he’s ambitious, he’ll want to leave the club and truly test himself.
Let’s see where he is come the start of next season.
In other news, the Scotland boss is already ruing the ridiculous Celtic snub he made last week.
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