If John Kennedy is in his final month in the Celtic hot-seat then he’s certainly not going to leave quietly after his blast at Steven Gerrard and the SFA over the Rangers Covid Five controversy.
The interim Hoops gaffer is unhappy at the delay in the Light Blues quintet being punished for attending an illegal party in February and the Ibrox club’s appeal over a six-match ban will see Nathan Patterson and Bongani Zungu available for next week’s Old Firm Scottish Cup showdown.
That comes after the appeal hearing was pencilled in for April 20 - three days after the Glasgow giants are set to collide in the last-16 in Govan.
Gerrard also called for leniency over Patterson’s punishment due to the fact he’s a potential future Scotland star and a spell on the sidelines would damage his career.
Eight Aberdeen players were handed suspended sentences for visiting a city centre bar in August and Boli Bolingoli banned for three matches for a whirlwind trip to Spain before appearing as a substitute against Kilmarnock.
Kennedy’s comments caused a stir on the Hotline and Eddie Easson, Ballingry, said: “Well done John Kennedy for saying what everyone else is thinking. Steven Gerrard and the SFA are a bunch of hypocrites.
“Steven Gerrard was happy to get tough with George Edmundson and Jordan Jones but has gone soft on the other five. He’s got more faces than the town clock.
“And the SFA are pandering to Rangers as usual. They should double the length of the ban if the appeal fails. And the same should go for all clubs.”
But Chris Lowe, Yoker, said: “So John Kennedy is stunned at Rangers and the SFA over the Covid Five? Well, not as stunned as the rest of Scottish football when your club got away with a 60-strong Dubai jolly.
“They were pictured with poolside pints, Shane Duffy flying home on a commercial flight only to play days later, the subsequent finger-pointing rant from Neil Lennon and not forgetting the Boli Bolingoli trip and he astonishingly managed to fly back into the country within 24 hours despite there being no flights on that day. People in glass houses John...”
And Derek Morris, Falkirk, said: “John Kennedy is correct that the Rangers Covid Five should be punished for having a drink together under lockdown rules - suspended sentences the same as the eight Aberdeen players.
“Boli Bolingoli got a three-game ban because he travelled abroad and then returned to play in a game which is a much more serious offence.”
On football matters Kennedy could have an input on the future of Leigh Griffiths with the club having an option to extend the contract of Leigh Griffiths for another year.
But David Bryce, Troon, said: “If Celtic give Leigh Griffiths another year I won’t renew my season ticket.
“He couldn’t be bothered getting fit at the beginning of the season and has performed like a pub player thereafter.
“He is a bang average striker and should leave on a free transfer at the end of the season. Whoever the new manager is needs a clean slate and players with the correct attitude”
While Kennedy’s opinion might count, the final decision could be Eddie Howe’s. Or will it? The former Bournemouth boss won’t return to management until the summer and that news has left Hoops legions wondering if he is the man.
Kevin Kean, Inchinnan, said: “Howe long has this been going on, as the song goes. Celtic are heading for another episode of ridicule as Eddie is no coming, then the hunt will all start again.”
Martin Baird, Glasgow, said: “Get the popcorn out and let’s sit back and continue to laugh out loud almost daily at the utter shambles that is the current Celtic management and squad rebuild.
“It seems the sacked ex-manager of Bournemouth doesn’t want to come and who can blame him? They have no other suitable candidates and come the summer their squad will be in tatters.”
Denis Bruce, Bishopbriggs, said: “As much as I hope Eddie Howe comes to Celtic because of the brand of football he likes his teams to play, my gut feeling is that coming to Scotland would take him out of his comfort zone and would leave this quiet and introverted man too exposed by the scrutiny the Celtic job brings with it.”
Stephen Johnstone, Ardentinny, said: “Celtic should tell Eddie Howe to sling his hook and bring in Paul Lambert.”
