ANGE POSTECOGLOU has confirmed he wants to quit Celtic for Spurs.
And, in a shock new twist, the Greek-Australian has informed the treble winners he wants to take his No.2 John Kennedy with him.
The Hoops hierarchy have been braced for Postecoglou moving on, but there has been no hint of his trusted lieutenant being part of any deal.
Thirty-nine-year-old Kennedy was given more responsibility in the Hoops’ backroom scheme of things when Ronny Deila took over from Neil Lennon in the summer of 2014.
PACK YOUR BAGS…Ange Postecoglou wants highly-rated Celtic No.2 John Kennedy to join him at Spurs.
He continued in the role when Brendan Rodgers replaced the Norwegian two years later and was asked to go with the Northern Irishman to Leicester City when he left Parkhead in February 2019.
The former Celtic and Scotland international central defender, who was forced to hang up his boots through injury at the age of 26, rejected the offer and was promoted as assistant to Lennon when he returned.
Kennedy was named interim manager after the Hoops’ former captain departed in February 2021 and was in charge for the remaining 10 games in the disastrous campaign that saw the team limp home without a trophy for the first time in 11 years.
He remained in place when Postecoglou arrived in June that year and the new man eventually bolstered his staff by adding Australian international legend Harry Kewell as first-team coach.
CHEERS…Ange Postecoglou, John Kennedy, Gavin Strachan and Harry Kewell celebrate a goal for the champions.
It was thought the one-time Leeds United and Liverpool winger may be enticed back across the border, but it is Kennedy the outgoing boss has targeted, according to a report in the Daily Mail.
They insist the exiting gaffer has informed the club he wants to become the new manager at the North London team who have already been knocked back by ex-Bayern Munich chief Julian Nagelsmann and Feyenoord’s Arne Slot in their search for a replacement for Antonio Conte who was sacked in March.
It is believed a formal approach will be made today for Postecoglou who joined the elite ranks of Celtic managers when he clinched the team’s eighth treble with the 3-1 Scottish Cup Final victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden on Saturday.
He can now take his place alongside Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Rodgers and Lennon as Hoops bosses who have achieved the world record feat.
THREE CHEERS…Ange Postecoglou celebrates the treble after the Scottish Cup Final triumph at Hampden on Saturday.
However, it is reported Postecoglou has informed directors and colleagues, including major shareholder Dermot Desmond, of his desire to join the struggling Premier League club who finished eighth in the table and missed out on Europe.
A debrief meeting to discuss a memorable campaign is scheduled for the club’s football department staff this morning and it is understood Postecoglou will NOT be in attendance.
There are suggestions he will be in London for talks with Spurs supremo Daniel Levy with the English side eager to progress a deal after permission is granted.
Postecoglou is scheduled to go on a family holiday tomorrow and will want everything put in place before he heads out.
It is highly unlikely Celtic will welcome any disruption of the backroom team and will not encourage a move for the highly-rated Kennedy to join the 57-year-old former Australia World Cup boss in London.
