CalMac is going nowhere
Midfielder will stay to step into departing Brown’s boots
Celtic fans don’t have to fear Callum McGregor will leave for Leicester City – or any other English club – in the summer.
Brendan Rodgers was a huge admirer of the Scotland midfielder when he was the Hoops manager, and he has been consistently tipped to try to sign him for his current employers.
But John Kennedy, the Celts’ interim-manager going into the final Old Firm clash of the season against Rangers today, is convinced McGregor is going nowhere.
He believes that the 27-year-old will stay on and is the natural choice to replace the departing Scott Brown as club captain.
John Kennedy looks set to stay put at Celtic next season. And he says Callum McGregor will be sticking around, too.
The Hoops interim boss is possibly poised to switch to the position of Sporting Director, with Eddie Howe arriving as the new permanent manager.
He will be deeply involved in the club’s long-term planning and, despite the fact McGregor has plenty of admirers in England, he believes the midfielder will be a key figure in Celtic’s future.
“I don’t think there is a danger of Callum hankering for the Premier League, or becoming disenchanted at Celtic,” said Kennedy.
“Callum is very committed to the club. He showed that when he sat down last time to sign his new contract.
“He is someone I know well. I have had him from the youth team all the way through. Speaking to him, he is a leader in his own right and the perfect character.
“That’s in terms of how he conducts himself every day, his professionalism and his performances in big moments.
“He’s very much committed to Celtic. This season has hurt Callum, as it has us all.
“But the club has been a huge part of his life, and he has been a huge part of the success we have had.
“Now he wants us to quickly hit our stride next season and put things right. Having been hit hard, he is very driven to make things change again.”
It is an attitude that has Kennedy convinced the 27-yearold Scotland international is the perfect candidate to be the team’s new skipper
“I see him as the next captain and successor to Scott. If I’m asked my opinion on it, I’d say Callum,” he said.
“Replacing Scott Brown is never going to be easy, and I don’t think he is one you directly replace because there aren’t many of his ilk out there.
“So you have to evolve without him. You have to move on, and have a new-look team without Scott.
“That’s what happens in football. Players come to the end of their careers or time at a club, and it’s how you then change.
“There’s a lot of change to happen this summe,r but it’s something we are well aware of.
“Callum is a different type of personality to Scott.
“He is a very humble guy, but his leadership skills are based around behaviours.
“The way he approaches training every day, how he conducts himself and how he performs.
“He has always got an element of calmness about him. He is a very stable guy, which is good for our captain, who is one of the first in the building.
“He does everything the best he can, he maximises what he has got. So he is a great leader in that respect, and a natural replacement for Scott.”
Before that, there is a season to finish off, with Kennedy taking the reins again for the final Old Firm derby of the season.
A Celtic victory would end Rangers hopes of recording an unbeaten league campaign.
But the man in charge insists that is not the priority, either for himself or for his players.
“It matters because we want to win, especially against Rangers who are our biggest rivals,” said Kennedy.
“In the games of late, we’ve created chances and played well – but haven’t won.
“And I’ve been here long enough to know that’s what we’re judged on.
“That’s what brings success to this club. It hurts, I don’t like it.
“We want to fix it and Sunday is an opportunity for us.
“In terms of Rangers going unbeaten, that’s their motivation, not ours, to stop it.
“We need to make sure we get our own house in order and do what’s right for us, which is winning the game.”
And if he has not done enough over the period to land the manager’s job itself, the 37-yearold argues the process has been a valuable one from a personal perspective.
“You learn more about yourself in terms of how you handle situations, with the pressure and stress of it,” he said.
“I always try to give myself the best chance just by being stable. By understanding that if I can deal with a worst-case scenario, I can deal with anything.
“With me, preparation is key. It has to be right. That gives us the best opportunity to approach games.
“If I feel it’s right that you’ve left no stone unturned. It gives you an element of comfort and keeps you calm.”