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'Wee kick up the backside' from Celtic manager Neil Lennon was uplifting and inspiring to former Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell


By Will Clark

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FORMER Ross County manager Stuart Kettlewell says he felt inspired by a late night phone call with Celtic boss Neil Lennon hours after being sacked.

Stuart Kettlewell says he was inspired by call from Neil Lennon. Picture: Ken Macpherson Photographers.
Stuart Kettlewell says he was inspired by call from Neil Lennon. Picture: Ken Macpherson Photographers.

The ex-Staggies boss lost his job minutes after the final whistle after watching his team lose 2-0 to Hamilton Academical in Dingwall on Saturday, December 19.

Returning home from the Global Energy Stadium, Kettlewell was inundated with messages of support.

But a call from Lennon at 11pm, Kettlewell says the words of encouragement from the Hoops boss, the night before Celtic’s Scottish Cup final with Hearts, left him optimistic for the future.

Speaking on the Balls and Whistles podcast available to listen to by clicking here, he said:“I was blown away to be honest.

“The Saturday I was sacked, it must have been 11pm at night, I received a phone call from Neil Lennon.

"The spin he put on it was completely different from everybody else.

“You look at what he has had to endure in the last period of time with the stresses and strains of managing a football club the size of Celtic.

“But he took the time to give me a ring and spent a bit of time giving me what I think is great advice.

“It is just a mark of the man and I said that three weeks previously when we beat Celtic in the League Cup.

“But it was the night before their Scottish Cup final against Hearts and he took the time to give me some support.

“It was almost a bit of congratulations for what was achieved after such a long period of time."

Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Ross County(1) v Celtic(4). 01.12.19. Celtic manager Neil Lennon.
Picture - Ken Macpherson, Inverness. Ross County(1) v Celtic(4). 01.12.19. Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

He continued: “Everybody goes into the mourning mode when you have lost your job and feel really sorry for you and the rest of it.

“But it was really uplifting and I felt it was inspiring and probably a wee kick up the backside hours after losing your job when it is all doom and gloom.

“It wasn’t just him as other people contacted me as well.

“But he had a cup final on his plate the next day.

"To be able to lift up the phone and that time of night and spend a bit of time was a touch of class which is in keeping with what I said before as well.”


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