Kennedy will focus on setting right example and trying to win as many games as possible
They say a new broom sweeps clean but John Kennedy insists he has no fear of being hurried out the door if and when Celtic appoint a new manager.
Neil Lennon’s No. 2 prior to the Northern Irishman’s departure last week, the 37-year-old has been handed the post on a caretaker basis.
Given the importance of getting a permanent appointment right, and the complexity of dealing with high- profile figures in the modern game, it has effectively meant him agreeing to a future outwith his control.
It is a sacrifice, he insists, he is happy to make.
“I’m really not worried about what comes in the coming months,” said Kennedy. “I trust myself in terms of coming in here every day and putting full effort into everything I can.
“This is not a time for me thinking, what if this happens or what if that happens?
“The only things I’m focusing on are making sure I’m setting the right example and trying to win as many games as possible.
“What happens beyond that is genuinely something I am not thinking about.”
Kennedy has been widely tipped to be a future manager in his own right in the past and indeed had the opportunity in November 2019.
Then, Hibernian targeted him for their top job only to lose out when Lennon talked his assistant into staying around.
The position was eventually given to Jack Ross, who is still in place today.
If it was the Scot’s “Sliding Doors” moment, he remains comfortable with the choice he made.
“In my whole career and life, I don’t have regrets,” he said.
“I very much evaluate any decision I make and I go with it, I fully commit and then what will be, will be.
“I trust myself to make the right decision. “You always reflect on it and question things. But, certainly at this time, that is nothing to do with it at all.
“I have dedicated everything in my time and life to do the best for the club, so that is
the same for now in terms of the situation we find ourselves in now.
“It is about what is right for the club, and not my agenda and what is good for me.”
Injury forced Kennedy to retire in 2009 at the age of just 26 but he was a classy centre- half for Celtic and Scotland before then.
Among the many interesting side issues of his time in charge will be whether he can do anything to stem the flow of goals at set- pieces that has been so damaging to the club this season.
“Obviously there has been an issue at set- plays in a number of games this season,” Kennedy said.
“We set our own standards and it has not been good enough.
“There have been too many times when we have been giving away soft goals.
“When you do that then you put yourself under pressure. “There has been too much emotion and that leads to bad decisions.
“I have seen that at times in terms of players I know who will do the right thing if they are calm.
“In certain games when they are under a bit of pressure, they have been trying to do the right thing for the good of the team.
“But, if you take that extra responsibility it can lead to pressure and some bad decisions.
“The players at the back have to realise what makes them good collectively.”
David Turnbull ( inset, left), an everpresent in the Celtic side for the last 25 games of Lennon’s stay, is optimistic for what lies ahead.
“I think Kendo is a great coach,” he said. “Since arriving here I have worked with him every day and he has always been good with me.
“He will maybe try to implement a few wee things here and there just to get more positive results.
“Hopefully we can help him do just that.”