Rodgers called it right on Kearney’s ambition to move
CELTIC boss Brendan Rodgers detected huge drive and ambition in Oran Kearney after just one phone call with the new St Mirren boss. The Northern Irish duo have never met faceto-face but they spoke in the summer when then-Colerain boss Kearney sought the advice of the former Liverpool manager ahead of an interview with the Paisley club.
Kearney impressed as the Buddies sought to replace Sunderlandbound Jack Ross but the board ultimately hired Alan Stubbs. However, the Liverpudlian’s sacking after just four league matches opened the door on a second chance for Kearney to take over at the Paisley 2021 Stadium.
Upon handing in his notice as a PE teacher and landing in Scotland last weekend, the 40-year-old found his mobile phone bleeping with a message from Rodgers that read: ‘Welcome to the league and see you on Friday night’.
Tomorrow evening, Celtic will be hoping to provide a baptism of fire for Kearney in his new post in the Premiership.
But after that, Rodgers will wish all the best to his countryman, who made a name clinching the Irish Cup and a league runners-up spot last season with unfashionable Coleraine.
‘I’m obviously very disappointed for Alan Stubbs and how quickly in the season he’s lost his job,’ said Rodgers. ‘He’s an excellent coach and manager but he’s now gone and Oran Kearney has come in.
‘I’ve never met Oran but I’ve been aware of his work back home in Ireland. I think when he first went for the job in the summer, through a mutual friend of ours, he wanted a chance to speak and we talked briefly for the first time. He was clearly ambitious to move on. He did a very good job at Coleraine and, after Friday, I will wish him all the best.
‘He will no doubt look to come in and work closely with the squad to get a bit of momentum going.
‘We expect a tough game and we will prepare for that.’
Celtic entered the international break on a high after a convincing win over Steven Gerrard’s Rangers in the first Old Firm derby of the season.
This will be Rodgers’ first trip to newly-promoted St Mirren’s ground as a manager and he wants to use the occasion as a springboard for a hectic upcoming set of fixtures.
After facing Saints, Celtic host Rosenborg in the Europa League next Thursday then travel to Rugby Park to play Kilmarnock three days later.
A Betfred Cup quarter-final at St Johnstone is next on September 26 before Aberdeen visit Parkhead in the league three days later. Celtic will then travel to Salzburg in the Europa League on October 4 before rounding off a busy spell with a trip back to McDiarmid Park to face St Johnstone in the league three days afterwards.
‘I grew up with Celtic playing games at Love Street when the two sides met and it was always a renowned Scottish ground,’ Rodgers told the
Celtic View.
‘They have a different stadium now, so it will be interesting to play in that for the first time.
‘I normally use a few days of the international break to reflect on the previous round of games. It’s been nearly three months, so it’s been such a busy period.
‘When you’re trying to be creative as a manager, you need that time to reflect. I try to take the opportunity to do that when possible.
‘We have a group of players who have still been here working. But we have all met up now and we are preparing for our next batch of seven games inside four weeks.’