Celtic legend praises Brendan Rodgers and John Kennedy

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The Celtic Star

·02 de novembro de 2025

Celtic legend praises Brendan Rodgers and John Kennedy

Jamesy Forrest has seen many managerial changes at Celtic over the years – he’s now seen Brendan Rodgers leave twice, and can Neil Lennon to that double exit category plus he’s been there when the likes of Ronny Deila and more recently Ange Postecoglou decided to leave the club…

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers presents a special award to Celtic’s most decorated player James Forrest. Celtic v St Mirren, Scottish Premiership, 17 May 2025 Photo Robert Perry/Shutterstock

Change is never easy at any club and for the players it can be unsettling, with their established relationships with their manager ending with immediate effect and a new face arriving, in this instance one many of the players will have had no knowledge of at all.

Vídeos OneFootball

Brendan Rodgers and James Forrest during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Livingston FC at Celtic Park on December 23, 2023. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Jamesy though was well aware of the legendary status of Martin O’Neill and experienced players like him and Callum McGregor will have played an important role in steadying the ship following the events of Monday evening at Celtic Park. The players too will have read much of what was in the media and also on the official Celtic website, with Dermot Desmond releasing an explosive statement taking down Rodgers’ reputation.

The players of course will have their own views on Brendan Rodgers and will have undoubtedly have had an early positive view of Martin after an eventful few days where he’s certainly made his presence felt in and around the club.

James Forrest and John Kennedy Photo: Jeff Holmes (Getty Images)

James Forrest, speaking to the mainstream media ahead of today’s Premier Sports Cup semi-final at Hampden agains theRangers, talked about both Brendan Rodgers and also John Kennedy who also left the club after 27 years of continual service, working with all the managers mentioned above, including Martin O’Neill.

If the Celtic principal shareholder’s statement was controversial – and it has certainly divided opinion amongst the Celtic supporters – the official Celtic announcement of John Kennedy leaving the club was pathetic, and there’s not too many who would disagree with that.

John Kennedy and Brendan Rodgers at Tannadice, Dundee Utd v Celtic, Sunday 22 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Kennedy deserved a much better sent off, maybe even a testimonial, and he’ll be a huge loss to the fabric of the club and the way things work at Lennoxtown in so many ways. Let’s look at what James Forrest has to say about the departure of Rodgers and Kennedy during his sit-down with the media, including The Herald.

On Brendan Rodgers: “I’ve had Rodgers two different spells now, and some of my best football has been under him,” admits Forrest “What he’s done for me has been great over the years.”

On John Kennedy: “I’ve known him for so many years. I don’t think anyone at the club can say a bad word about him. I think what he’s done, maybe people don’t see on the outside what he does every day.

“For me as well, anything off the pitch or on it, if you ever needed or had a problem, you could go to him, and it wouldn’t go anywhere as well, and I think that’s big in football.

Ronny Deila Celtic manager with coach John Kennedy (right) during the Pre Season Friendly between Celtic and De Bosch at St Mirren Park on July 01, 2015. (Photo by Jeff Holmes/Getty Images)

“So definitely sad, but these things do happen in football, and you do need to move on, but loads of great memories with them, and you can look back on it positively.”

Pretty much every Celtic player in the modern era will have similar stories to tell about John Kennedy. The Celtic Board know this well enough but couldn’t put aside their Monday night anger to recognise a hugely important Celtic man moving on, as he has every right to do.

Ange Postecoglou and John Kennedy during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic FC and Kilmarnock FC at on January 07, 2023 (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

For Brendan, he was always leaving in May anyway, given the lack of respect he had in that boardroom. He’s do just fine away from Celtic, as indeed will John Kennedy, who should have been treated so much better by our football club this week.

READ THIS…Celtic v the Rangers – Team News, Match Officials & Where to Watch

Celtic celebrations after winning the Premier Sports Cup Final between Celtic and theRangers at Hampden on Sunday 15 December 2024. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

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Celtic in the Eighties and Willie Fernie – Putting on the Style both by David Potter. Photo The Celtic Star

Danny McGrain signing copies of Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Photo: Celtic Star Books