Stephen Kenny yesterday broke from discussing preparations for Hampden to reflect emotionally on his memories of the man who provided his earliest link to Scottish football.
The Dunfermline manager struck up a friendship with John Kelman while at Bohemians in Dublin, and the scout remained a source of advice until his death last month.
Kelman spent 15 years at Celtic and helped bring through players such as Paul McStay, Peter Grant and Derek Whyte before joining Aberdeen. "John Kelman was the only man I knew in Scottish football," said Kenny. "He was a gentleman. We would share a cup of tea and a chat after games.
"I called him after I came over to Scotland and he said he was in hospital. He told me he had some really bad news. He had cancer and it was spreading rapidly. What I was calling about seemed totally irrelevant, but John insisted I told him. I'd seen Tam McManus for Falkirk reserves, but it was one game and I wanted John's opinion. He said I wouldn't go wrong.
"A few weeks later, my assistant, Declan Devine, told me John's funeral had been in the paper. I never knew he'd died and it struck me. I was annoyed no-one had told me, but I realised we had no mutual friends. I have good memories of him. He was a great bloke."
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