John Kennedy is pretty much in with the bricks at Celtic and as a coach he’ll no doubt at some stage be looking to test himself in a top job one day, but recent links with the vacant post at Hibs is one Kennedy would do well to steer well clear of.

Trigger happy Ron Gordon and his Easter Road board’s decision to dispense with the services of Shaun Maloney after only 18 games in charge should be all the warning Kennedy needs that Hibernian isn’t a place where patience is afforded to anyone – particularly when the neighbours are doing well.

Having appointed a manager with no experience as a number one to then expect a turnaround in fortunes after so few games and only one transfer window shows expectations at the Edinburgh club are not grounded in reality.

A manager at any time, never mind one with no experience in a top job, needs support from the board from the off. They also require patience and an owner who does not bend to the fickle nature of supporter’s opinion, or indeed eyes and ears in the dressing room who may have ulterior motives.

Hibs owner Ron Gordon does not appear to be the sort of manager who offers time and breathing space, nor does he appear to accept as Ange Postecoglou was quoted this week, that ‘the road to success is not downhill’.

Having been willing to appoint a rookie boss and no doubt aware of the bumps in the road such an appointment would undoubtedly result in, his decision to turn trigger happy at the first sign of discontent should be all the warning John Kennedy needs to sit tight at Celtic and wait for a club who include common sense in their strategic thinking.

When you consider Hibs sacked Maloney’s predecessor just prior to competing in a League Cup Final against Celtic, Kennedy should be aware there is a pattern of impatience, alongside unreasonable expectation, is emerging at Hibs and it’s a club where managerial careers could be ended before they’ve even been given a chance to begin.

Hibs predicament at the moment appears to be mired in supporter discontent at the current success of their city neighbours, allied to a group of players who believe coaches instructions rather than their inability to follow them are the root cause of their problems. Former players on the coaching staff also seem to have the loyalty of the dressing room and that in itself is not just a challenging environment for a manager without experience to go into, it’s a political landscape that could well result in career suicide without the experience of navigating such challenges or strong leadership behind you.

For John Kennedy there is every chance he could be a success as a manager, after all he’s learned on the job from previous managers how to do it – and possibly more importantly how not to. But having stayed at Celtic, and no doubt turned down opportunities to fly the nest previously, it makes little sense to jump ship for this club and at this time. Ron Gordon and the poisoned chalice of the Hibs managerial role is something John Kennedy would do well to shun for now, no matter how tempting the opportunity may be.

Niall J