Kennedy favourite for top job

JOHN Kennedy has replaced Steve Clarke as the favourite to be appointed Celtic manager after taking charge on an interim basis until the end of the season following the resignation of Neil Lennon.

The Parkhead club announced to the stock exchange that Lennon, whose team lost 1-0 to bottomplaced Premiership side Ross County on Sunday to remain 18 points behind Rangers, had stood down yesterday morning.

Speculation has abounded about who will succeed Lennon during the 2020/21 campaign as the quadruple treble winners’ bid to make Scottish football history by completing 10-In-A-Row has unravelled.

Clarke, who transformed the fortunes of Kilmarnock during his two seasons at Rugby Park and led Scotland through to the Euro 2020 play-off finals last year, had been the frontrunner with bookmakers.

But Kennedy, the former Celtic centre half who has worked as a scout, youth team coach, first team coach and assistant manager since a serious knee injury forced him to retire in 2010, is now being tipped to take over permanently.

In a statement on Celtic’s official website, Lennon, who replaced Brendan Rodgers as manager two years ago tomorrow and then helped the Glasgow club to win five consecutive trophies, admitted it had been a demanding campaign.

“We have experienced a difficult season due to so many factors and, of course, it is very frustrating and disappointing that we have not been able to hit the same heights as we did previously,” he said.

“I have worked as hard as ever to try and turn things around, but unfortunately we have not managed to get the kind of run going that we have needed.

“I have always given my best to the club and have been proud to deliver silverware to the Celtic supporters. The club will always be part of me. I will always be a Celtic supporter myself and I will always want the best for Celtic.”

Peter Lawwell, the Celtic chief executive who made Lennon manager twice, praised the Northern Irishman’s “courage and tenacity”.

“I would like to pay tribute to Neil for all he has done for the club in his second spell, delivering our eighth and ninth successive league titles, the quadruple treble and winning the last five available domestic trophies,” he said.

“Neil has always been and will always be a true Celtic man and someone I will always hold in the highest regard.

“I have watched Neil fight many battles over many years, on and off the field, with a courage and tenacity few could match.”