Kennedy: Celtic can't rush next managerial appointment

Celtic’s interim manager John Kennedy has said the club’s appointment of a permanent successor to Neil Lennon can’t be hurried.

It’s over six weeks since Lennon left his position and the club are making extensive changes ahead of next season, with Dominic McKay replacing Peter Lawwell as chief executive and a new football structure being planned.

The manager’s role is the most high profile change and, after talks centred on Eddie Howe joining the club, the Englishman’s representative was quoted as saying that he would not be taking on a new role before summer and had not struck a deal with any club.

It means Celtic supporters will be buying season tickets for the next campaign without a clear idea of who will be in charge or what to expect, but Kennedy says the direction of the team is the most important consideration.

“Ultimately the club have to make the right decision for the greater good of the club going forward,” he said.

“Do you just name a manager now who they might think isn’t quite right for the sake of the season books or do they make sure they make the right decision long term?

“I know it is difficult without clarity, I understand that.

“People probably expect those behind the scenes should let everyone know everything but some things have to remain private to the point when decisions are ready to be made. But we have just got to be patient at this time.

“It has been a difficult season, everyone understands that but the club wants to do the right thing moving forward and sometimes that takes a bit longer than everyone would like but we have to be patient on that.”

Though urging patience where the appointment is concerned, Kennedy did concede that some elements of forward planning were “on hold” with the future of some players up in the air.

He added: “There are things that are part of natural processes in terms of what we do pre-season, the start back date, which we have to have a plan for.

“If there is change they (new manager) might come in and make minor changes to that but in the main it is pretty much making sure things are in place for a successful pre-season.

“Obviously then there is squad decisions but again that will need to be put on hold.

“But behind that, there is a lot of work in terms of preparation to make sure that whoever is making the decision has got options.

“In terms of us, it is a case of focusing on the football, preparing for games and let the hierarchy deal with the behind the scenes stuff.”