KENNEDY CAN HANDLE HEAT
he can handle the hotseat despite Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon coming in for stinging criticism.
Kennedy has also copped flak off sections of the Hoops support while he was part of the three gaffers’ backroom teams.
He said: “Does it put me off ? Not really. It’s a tough gig at Celtic. There are very high standards and high demands.
“At times some of the criticism can be harsh. I’m not just talking about this season. Everyone sees things differently and has an opinion, which is fine.
“It’s par for the course in the job. The closer you get to the first team, the more visible you are. Every performance and result can be scrutinised.
“But we need to trust in what we believe in. If you listen to too many voices and opinions you can start to doubt things. I’ve always approached it with the view I love challenges.
“This has been the most challenging season I’ve had in my coaching career.
“It’s been tough, it’s been disappointing, none more so than for Neil and myself assisting him.
“The club have been successful. There have been setbacks this season that have been hard to take. But you have to realise how to fix it and bring it back rather than go to pieces.”
Kennedy is refusing to bite on talk about taking charge permanently.
The 37-year-old said: “I want to restore pride and get some spirit around the club. But beyond that I haven’t given any thought to myself.
“Is it an audition? I honestly don’t see it like that. I even spoke to the players in that respect.
“This is really not a time about me, in terms of my ambitions and what might come out of this for me.
“I really don’t care. All I want to do is the right thing for the club and the people I work with.”
Kennedy insists he’s not thinking about the pride in finally becoming boss, having been tipped for the role for years.
He added: “People who know me know that’s not my style. It’s not like I’ve been saying, ‘I’m in charge’.
“Whether I’m assistant manager, manager or firstteam coach, you always have the same application. The only difference now is there’s more responsibility to make sure everything’s going in the right direction.”
Kennedy has drafted in Stephen McManus as coaching back-up but is adamant his former Hoops team-mate’s appointment is no old pal’s act.
He said: “Stephen is a very good coach.
“It’s not just a case of he’s someone I’ve known for a very long time. I like the way he works with the reserves and he’s a good fit with the first team.”
Celtic have started the search for Lennon’s successor but highprofile names in the mix, David Moyes and Dan Petrescu, have distanced themselves from the gig.
Moyes – in the frame before Rodgers arrived in 2016 – has led West Ham into the Premier League top four and is on the verge of a new deal.
The Scot said: “I have no intentions of going any-where. I’m really happy here. We are quietly ticking things along.
“I have already spoken to [West Ham owner] David Sullivan. Hopefully we can start to sustain a level of league position.”
Petrescu this week quit Turkish club Kayserispor for personal reasons and is not looking for a quick return. He said: “Even if Celtic were to call me, I couldn’t coach now.
“It’s 99 per cent certain I won’t be with any club until the summer.”
RANGERS are massively guilty of double standards.
It’s almost laughable to hear Steven Gerrard call for consistency from the SFA over disciplinary issues when his club are guilty of being so inconsistent on hugely important matters themselves.
Nathan Patterson’s outing against Royal Antwerp didn’t shock me. Neither did the inclusions of Calvin Bassey and Bongani Zungu in the squad.
If I were Gerrard, I’d have done the same as I would have wanted my strongest possible squad available.
Now let me get one thing crystal clear – I’m not having a go at Patterson. This is a young kid. He made a mistake, he apologised and he’s moved on.
But if I were Jordan Jones and George Edmundson, I would be feeling betrayed.
Those two were hung out. Suspended by the club pending an investigation, we were told on an official statement. Punted down the road to England.
Yet the other boys did the same thing and were put straight back into the squad as soon as their isolation periods were up.
It stinks of hypocrisy and double standards. In that statement, the words of managing director Stewart Robertson read: “We are completely aligned in our action and the standards being set at Rangers.
“We will not tolerate behaviour that does not follow those standards.”
So what changed? Well, from the outside it looks simple. Edmundson and Jones weren’t needed for the squad. With James Tavernier injured, Patterson was.
Why not just come out and say so? Let’s not try to dress it up as something else. Let’s not kid ourselves with standards chat.
Rangers’ standards on the park this season have not changed. They have been excellent.
Off the park, though, this incident suggests standards at the top are set when it suits.