Who killed Kennedy?

Top coach John deserved a better cheerio but pulling trigger on club legend deepens Brendan mystery

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

FOOTBALL isn't a business where many employees get rolled out in front of the staff to get the gold carriage clock for long service.

Most managers and coaches don't stick around long enough to earn a plastic Casio watch.

But every so often there are folk who buck the trend, the ones who stay and stand the test of time.

And when it does get to the point of parting ways, they probably deserve the occasion to be marked by more than a few words on a website.

It might have got lost in the wash but it wasn't just Brendan Rodgers who departed Celtic over the seismic past few days.

John Kennedy also headed for the exit, ending almost 30 years at Parkhead, where he arrived as a nipper, broke into the first team as a kid and then overcame his horrific career-ending injury to become the most decorated coach in the club's history with a hand in an incredible 22 trophies.

Oh, and you can chuck in three titles as youth-team boss and a couple of Scottish Youth Cups as well, plus the two league medals that he picked up as a player.

There's confusion over his departure. Kennedy is keeping his own counsel but did he jump or was he pushed? Or, more likely, somewhere in between.