Henry Jackson 
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Neil Lennon is already planning ahead of next season, according to Celtic first-team coach John Kennedy.
Lennon returned to the Parkhead hot-seat after the shock departure of Brendan Rodgers in February, and he has settled back in impressively.
The 47-year-old has won every game in his second stint in charge of the Hoops, as their chances of securing the ‘treble treble’ remain strong.
Celtic have not yet decided who their next permanent manager will be, however, with Lennon far from guaranteed the job.
Despite this, Kennedy has told The Herald that the Northern Irishman is already looking ahead, should he get the nod:
Neil has come in and he is looking at the squad. We have sat down and we have had meetings about next season, if everything goes to plan, and what it might be.
There is a bit of work to be done, there’s no getting away from that. A bit of work in terms of planning, which the club will continue.
Hopefully, when that happens, it’ll be pretty smooth and we’ll hit the ground running next season.
Neil has been terrific since he’s come in. He’s in a position where you don’t know what the final outcome is going to be and it’s the same for myself.
In football, you never know what can happen, so, ultimately, myself, Neil, Damien and Stevie Woods just have to go out and deliver in terms of results, leagues and, hopefully, the cup.
But Neil has treated the job like he’s going to be in it and doing all of the work he can.
He’s involved in terms with, from his perspective, what the club might need, giving his opinion on things and the club has good support behind that who will continue to work and whatever it throws up in the summer, there will be enough options there that whoever is making the decisions will be able to do so.
Next up for Celtic is a huge game with Aberdeen on Sunday, in the Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.
Victory will see them reach yet another final, and perhaps further strengthen Lennon’s hold on the job.
He remains the bookies’ favourite to be the Hoops’ manager at the beginning of next season.
