When Neil Lennon decided to step down from his position as the manager of Celtic two months ago, it would have been a surprise to the Parkhead hierarchy.
Despite the Bhoys sitting 18 points adrift of top spot, they were still full of backing for the Northern Irishman. They weren’t ready to see him go and that’s been apparent in the fact that we’re still no closer to an announcement from the Hoops’ boardroom as to his long-term successor.
Nick Hammond has left the club in the meantime, while Dominic McKay has already started putting plans in place for next season. That said, the biggest capture of them all still escapes them.
With a number of issues to address before the summer window opens, Celtic need to get someone in place as soon as possible.
A number of coaches have been in the frame for the manager’s job, from Eddie Howe and Lucien Favre to Roy Keane.
If anyone is to finally be appointed, it shouldn’t be John Kennedy, someone the club are thinking of considering. He was given the keys to Celtic on an interim basis when Lennon left but, despite only losing one of his matches in charge – their defeat to Rangers in the Scottish Cup – he hasn’t covered himself in glory.
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The Glaswegian outfit have only scored 12 goals in seven games, six of which came in one match against Livingston. Beyond that, they have been terrible in front of goal and have continued to be lacklustre at the back, somehow drawing 0-0 with Dundee United in the game which handed their crosstown rivals the Premiership title.
On that day, goalkeeper Benjamin Siegrist made an eye-catching haul of 12 saves. A similar eventuality befell Celtic last weekend.
As they were knocked out of the cup, Odsonne Edouard uncharacteristically missed from a few yards out before Moi Elyounoussi spurned a golden chance from inside the area as well. Edouard also missed a penalty with a rather poor effort from 12 yards out.
Kennedy has been unable to revive Celtic, and his substitutions and team selection leave plenty to be desired.
He is playing a number of first teamers who won’t even be at the club next season. Aberdeen-bound Scott Brown is still earning minutes while Diego Laxalt, Jonjoe Kenny and Elyounoussi – all on loan – have been regulars.
The 37-year-old has been devoid of inspiration and is failing to blood those who have a future at the club; you only need to look at Ismaila Soro’s lack of minutes for evidence in that department.
He has also been making some peculiar comments to the media, something the hot-headed Chris Sutton commented upon last week.
Speaking on the Record Celtic podcast after Kennedy claimed Celtic were still the best team in the country, Sutton said: “He could still say that Celtic have a good team that they can perform extremely well. But he said they are the best team in the country, that is a completely different thing to say, it’s a ridiculous thing to say.
“First of all it’s absolutely not true, everyone can see that and it’s slightly delusional to say that. It was just a really daft comment to make that Celtic are still the best team in the country when they have been annihilated this season.”
Kennedy has looked a forlorn figure on the sidelines in recent weeks and has nothing to show why he should be given the job. At least Keane has accomplished something in his managerial career; he was promoted to the Premier League with Sunderland in 2007.
At the moment, Dermot Desmond should pick anyone but their interim manager; it would only create an ever bigger mess.
AND in other news, Forget Harkin: Celtic could find their new Van Dijk by appointing title-winning 39 y/o…