Left-back on signing a new contract
Callum Kennedy says he has reaped the benefits of extra fitness work after signing a new contract today, but the left-back believes there is much more to come from him next season.
Kennedy is far from resting on his laurels after doing enough to convince Neal Ardley that he is worth another chance and he knows that 18-year-old Ben Harrison will be pushing him all the way for starts during 2015/16.
Speaking during an interview with Rob Cornell for Dons Player, Kennedy said: “Ben came in and did a fantastic job after Jack Smith got injured last season and it was then that I knew it was do or die for me. Sometimes when you are on the brink of losing something it gives you that kick up the backside. I had a few sleepless nights thinking ‘where am I going with this?’ I thought that I had to do more and that sparked a change as I started coming in early for training.
At the end of last season I picked up a thigh strain and did not quite make it back to feature again. I had a quick holiday, but it’s been back to work since. “I did a lot of extra fitness work with Jason Moriarty and Stuart Douglas. Then when I got my chance again I relished it. The hard work paid off as I started to perform and with that came more confidence. Now it is about building on that. I want to kick on next season, take it onto another level, and help the team as much as I can.
“Competition for places can only be a good thing. I have said that ever since I got here, but in the past I was not performing to the level I should have been. Ben pushing me for a place or the other way around is fantastic for the club. It’s great to have a young lad coming through. He is a top lad too and if there is anything I can do to help him I will.”
The FA Cup tie against Liverpool in January was one to savour for Kennedy after forcing his way back into the side, but he says the Dons have to replicate such performances on a more consistent basis next season.
“It was one that the fans will always remember because we did ourselves proud,” added Kennedy. “That showed how good our team was and maybe it was a mental thing why we couldn’t perform more consistently like that throughout the season. Next season we have to put that right. I am over the moon to sign and I’m more excited about this coming season than I have been for a long time.”
The full eight-minute interview with Callum Kennedy and an update from Neal Ardley are now on Dons Player.