Exclusive: John Kennedy joins Norwich on loan

Jul 27 2008 By Mark Guidi

CELTIC defender John Kennedy last night agreed to join Norwich City on loan until January.

And Parkhead team-mate Bobo Balde is set to follow him out the door with Birmingham and Ipswich both keen for his signature this week.

Injury-hit Kennedy is pleased to get a chance to kickstart his career and hopes the move will prepare him to return to the Hoops next year and become a permanent fixture in Gordon Strachan's plans.

Kennedy (right) is finally ready to put behind him four years of hell caused by knee problems.

He said: "I'm looking forward to a new challenge and joining up at Norwich with familiar faces in David Marshall and Mark Fotheringham. However, my main aim is be back in the Celtic first team by January.

"I would also like to thank Motherwell and Preston and their managers, Mark McGhee and Alan Irvine, who have shown interest in me. They are two great clubs and the interest was very flattering."

While Kennedy intends to return to Parkhead, Balde's move will be permanent.

He isn't part of Strachan's plans and the Hoops have worked for more than a year to get him off the books and free up wages of nearly £30,000 a week. Balde is the final year of his contract but has been granted a free transfer if he wants it.

He is likely to take the club up on the offer and move to England after seven years in the SPL.

Alex McLeish has been trailing him since January and will offer the towering defender a two-year contract at Birmingham.

But Ipswich boss JimMagilton is also keen and, backed by new wealthy club owners, will be in a position to also offer the Guinean a megabucks deal.

Balde returned from Celtic's tour of Portugal this morning and is keen to sort out his future in the next few days.