KENNEDY ‘WON’T BE GOING ANYWHERE’

CELTIC will tell Hibs they have no chance of landing John Kennedy amid reports the Hoops assistant boss is on their radar to replace Paul Heckingbottom who was sacked a week ago.

Neil Lennon insists his No.2 “won’t be going anywhere” as he continues to plot the way ahead in the champions’ quest for nine in a row and also European success.

Speaking after the 2-0 win over Motherwell at Parkhead that keeps the team at the Premiership pinnacle, Lennon told Daily Record: “I don’t want him to go, for a start.

“It doesn’t surprise me, because he is a superb coach. It is a feather in a cap for John if that is the case, but, as far as I’m concerned, he won’t be going anywhere, he is very integral to what we are doing here.”

Kennedy, Celtic’s former Scotland centre-half who was forced to quit playing at the age of 21 following knee damage sustained on international duty in March 2004, has made rapid strides through the scouting and coaching ranks at Parkhead.

He was involved during Brendan Rodgers’ two-and-a-half year reign and was reported to be asked by the Irishman to go with the rest of the backroom staff to Leicester City when he made his sudden departure in February.

Instead, the ex-Celt chose to remain at the club and was promoted from first-team coach to assistant manager to Lennon when he returned to the Hoops.

Ironically Kennedy was in the opposition dug-out at Hampden 10 days ago when the holders hammered the Easter Road side 5-2 in the Betfred League Cup semi-final to trigger the sacking of Heckingbottom at the Edinburgh outfit.

* AWESOME ODSONNE LEADS THE CHARGE