REAL DEAL KENNEDY CAN LEAVE HIS MARK
MARK KENNEDY celebrated his 46th birthday on Sunday, and his first as the new head coach of Lincoln City. It was bound to be a happier affair than his 26th birthday. On May 15, 2002, Kennedy played 80 minutes for a Republic of Ireland XI against Sunderland in Niall Quinn’s testimonial game. From the press box in the Stadium of Light, Kennedy had a decent game on his return after a groin injury and looked set to be included in Mick McCarthy’s squad for the World Cup finals.
Only Kennedy didn’t feel 100 per cent and told McCarthy afterwards it would be a risk bringing him to the finals. His honesty was admirable and McCarthy called up Steven Reid, who went on to play in Japan. In contrast, Kennedy never got the chance to play in a major tournament, nor did he play for Ireland again. Once the most expensive teenager in British football, Kennedy was blessed with a sweet left foot and mazy dribbling ability. A return of 34 caps didn’t do his skills justice. He liked a joke and the night before a Euro qualifier in Austria, I recall him limping past the bar in the team hotel in Vienna, which almost caused a press stampede to the phones. There was an ill-judged boys night out in Dublin with Phil Babb which ended in the clink after they jumped on a car owned by a member of the Gardaí — McCarthy was not impressed and sent both home. I always got on well with ‘Sparky’ and wish him well in his new job, which comes after learning the coaching ropes at Ipswich Town (twice), Manchester City and most recently, Birmingham City. He also had a brief spell as No 1 at Macclesfield in 2020. Should any Lincoln player try and pull a fast one by feigning injury, Kennedy will see through them right away. After all, he’s been there.