CELTIC No.2 John Kennedy has revealed Celtic plans as the club aim for the magical 10 in a row.
Neil Lennon’s trusted lieutenant reckons the Hoops only need “two or three” additions to strengthen the squad.
And the former Scotland international defender insisted the champions are in a strong position to resist bids for another of their star performers such as Odsonne Edouard, Kristoffer Ajer and Callum McGregor.
Kennedy, speaking to the Daily Record, said: “We’ll probably look at two or three signings to keep things fresh.
“We’ve got a strong squad and we’re really happy about that, but you’re always looking to see what can make us better.
“Recruitment is always on your mind, although, of course, there’s still a lot of uncertainty about football at the moment. When are transfer windows going to open and close?
WE’RE IN CHARGE…John Kennedy and Neil Lennon urge to team on from the touchlines.
“We want to keep our best players, keep the core of the group. The only thing that would change that is if we get a huge offer that demands we consider it plus a player wanting to go.
“But we’re not certainly looking to let our best players go. because they’ve been very important for us.”
It was just over a week that the SPFL make the historic decision to call a premature conclusion to the season due to the coronavirus pandemic and award the ninth successive championship to the Parkhead side.
Lennon’s men were, of course, zeroing in on the club’s 51st crown with a 13-point advantage and only eight games to play plus a massive goal difference superiority of 25 on their nearest challengers.
However, the club are already looking to the future and Kennedy said: “We’ve already put nine behind us. The focus is now on 10.
“Pretty much after last week’s celebrations, we had a meeting and it was about the next season. Of course, you still enjoy the feeling of nine and you savour it.
“But we also quickly switched on to how we were going to set things up for going back to training, what does the squad require, what decisions we need to make.
“It’s the way we’ve always operated. You quickly need to bring a focus back to things and make sure everything’s ready. I think we’ve been relentless over the years and that’s why we’ve been so successful. It’s not going to change.
“We’ve got born winners in the squad. They’ve all tasted success now and they want more and more of it. No-one’s ready to ease up on that.
THAT’S MY BHOY…John Kennedy issues some instructions to Odsonne Edouard.
“For as long as me and Neil are in place, there will be no let up in the desire to be successful. This is Celtic. It’s about winning trophies.
“The minute we stop, admire all the work we’ve done and tell each other we’ve been wonderful, then everybody else will catch up and that’s when things will change.
“You’re not always going to win every trophy every season. At some point it’s going to stop, but we’ll keep on striving.”
Kennedy, 36, added: “It’s probably only when I’m an old man that I’ll take time out to properly reflect on what’s been achieved here.
“To be sitting here with nine-in-a-row is remarkable for everyone. As a player, I probably never thought of nine in a row, mainly because I was injured more often than not. As a coach in the first team, then eventually it does start to enter the mind. Nine and 10 have been spoken about for a number of years.
“As much as you want to achieve it, you can’t look too far ahead. The approach we’ve always had has been not to get caught off guard.
“Fortunately, we are now sitting at having just one season to go for the 10 and be part of even more history.
“Making nine is a huge achievement in itself. There’s been a humility about it all.
“I’ve always been driven to win as much as I possibly can and I know Neil’s been the same. We want to get as many trophies as we can.
“We’ve never allowed our eye to come off the ball. Ten is the next milestone and we’re in a position to make it happen.”
