Ange Postecoglou set to be confirmed Tottenham boss as he targets John Kennedy & key Celtic backroom staff to join him
ANGE POSTECOGLOU is poised to be confirmed as new Spurs boss and he wants Celtic No2 John Kennedy to join him in London.
SunSport understands the Greek-Aussie told Parkhead major shareholder Dermot Desmond on Saturday night – in the aftermath of securing a Treble with Scottish Cup glory over Caley Thistle – that he wanted to grab the dream opportunity of heading to the Premier League.
Now it’s expected that Spurs chief Daniel Levy will announce Postecoglou as Antonio Conte’s successor over the next 72-hours – with the 57-year-old getting a hugely lucrative contract, including major bonus incentives, to transform the club like he has Celtic.
And Postecoglou looks certain to move to secure his trusted Hoops right-hand man Kennedy as his No2 down south.
The 39-year-old has been with Celtic for over 25-years; first team star, recruitment operator, development coach, first team coach, assistant manager and at one point interim boss.
Hearts are also admirers as they consider their permanent manager position, with caretaker Steven Naismith still very much in contention.
But while the ambitious Kennedy – a phenomenal success over nine years working with Ronny Deila, Brendan Rodgers, Neil Lennon and now Postecoglou – is keen to one day be his own man, it’s thought the departing Celtic boss believes he can offer him a far more exciting proposition.
Fellow coach Gavin Strachan as well as one of the first-team’s video analysts are also expected to make the move south.
We revealed that Hearts would have to cough up a six-figure compensation sum to have any chance of luring the highly regarded Kennedy from Parkhead.
But that wouldn’t be a problem for the massively resourced Spurs who will also pay Celtic a seven-figure sum for Postecoglou who has been working on a 12-month rolling contract.
Just last week, Postecoglou was lavish in his praise of the coach who turns 40 in August after it emerged the Jambos had placed him on a short-list.
He said: “John plays a vital role. I give him a lot of responsibility. He’s got a lot of experience at this football club, part of a lot of success.
“That isn’t by accident. It’s not surprising people are looking at him.
“And when the time is right he will make an outstanding manager.”
Losing Postecoglou is a hammer blow for the Celts board who have watched him lead the team to five trophies out of six over two incredible years after taking him from Japanese side Yokohama F Marinos.
But to also lose Kennedy – such a behind-the-scenes mastermind since 2014 – would be another severe disappointment and it remains to be seen how they would react to a Spurs approach.
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