John Kennedy takes Celtic pre-match media duties; comments on Ange Postecoglou speculation

By John McGinley

February 10, 2023

Celtic assistant manager John Kennedy was the senior figure on pre-match media duties at the Bhoys today, ahead of tomorrow’s Scottish Cup test at home to St Mirren.

Ange Postecoglou was at Lennoxtown for Celtic training this morning but it was Kennedy put in front of the microphone to answer questions from the media.

Inevitably, Kennedy was asked about all the speculation this week linking Postecoglou to the vacant managerial post at Leeds United.

Kennedy opened with a joke and then gave his view on it all, stating [Clyde 1]: “We’ve tied him to the chair upstairs and have a couple of security at his door. Listen, there’s always speculation – credit to the manager and the job he’s done here. It’s a bit like players. When players come in and do well they get linked to other clubs.

“The manager has shown his abilities as a manager and when you do that and have success with that you attract attention. Ultimately there’s a lot of speculation, that’s what it is, it’s a lot of noise.

“I know first-hand the way he works, he’s really focused on his job here. He loves being here. He’s in the middle of building something very special. His mind is firmly focused on being at Celtic and doing the best he can.”

Kennedy was also on media duties with Celtic TV earlier this week so it may well be the manager is just taking a bit of time off from all the outside nonsense to focus on the team, or to give his coach the chance for some experience in a cup week.

Kennedy is clearly not expecting anything to change at the Bhoys anytime soon, so there’s little reason to read anything else into it. In fact, he was clear in his answer that Ange is committed to Celtic.

I’m sure we’ll see that in action tomorrow.

In other news, Lewis Morgan hands Giorgos Giakoumakis warning following Celtic departure.