Chris Sutton names two managers Celtic ‘simply’ must not hire

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Celtic legend Chris Sutton is warning the Scottish Premiership champions not to go down the route of Brendan Rodgers or John Kennedy after losing Ange Postecoglou to Tottenham Hotspur. 

The Hoops would have always suspected that this day would come sooner rather than later. But, still, the speed of Ange Postecoglou’s departure – the Australian was officially confirmed as Spurs’ new manager this week – may have taken Celtic aback.

The good news is that, less than one week out from the Scottish Cup final victory over Inverness at Hampden Park, Celtic have plenty of time on their side as they scour the market for a replacement. 

And, as far as Sutton is concerned, the Glasgow giants should avoid harking back to the past in an attempt to ensure a bright future. 

“Two men I would be ruling out of running immediately are Brendan Rodgers and John Kennedy,” Sutton tells the Daily Record. 

Could Brendan Rodgers really return to Celtic?

Rodgers, four years after leaving Celtic in the lurch to take over at Leicester City, has been linked with a controversial return to Parkhead.  

Kennedy meanwhile may feel that the time is right to ‘go solo’ after a decade behind the scenes at Parkhead, though Sutton has reservations about him too. 

“Rodgers is just simply not an option, surely,” the former Hoops striker adds.

“Brendan was a brilliant Celtic manager, but the way he left was just too much for some fans to stomach. I sense it may create a difficult environment between stands and technical area if he were to come back. I might be wrong, but I can’t see it.

“Kennedy was another I considered. But I’m not sure that is the route Celtic will go down. He has done the job before, mind you. And he certainly knows every single detail about the cub because he’s worked there, successfully, for so long.”

39-year-old Kennedy was part of Postecoglou’s coaching staff, helping the club claim a fifth domestic treble in eight seasons in 2022/23.

According to the Scottish Daily Mail, he would prefer to join Postecoglou at Tottenham rather than put his name in the frame for the manager’s role at Celtic.