Crusaders ace Ben Kennedy: The truth about my fall-out with Stephen Baxter

Ben Kennedy says he still has immense respect for Stephen Baxter

Crusaders ace Ben Kennedy has lifted the lid on his fallout with manager Stephen Baxter, insisting it was a “miscommunication” and the incident has not shaken his commitment to the club or his respect for the world’s longest serving manager.

Baxter is stepping down as Crues boss at the end of the season and Kennedy says he’s fired up to give his manager the send off he deserves.

The former Northern Ireland Under-21 international appeared on course for a switch to Larne last month when Crusaders placed him on the transfer list a week before Christmas.

But a move to the Premiership champions failed to materialise and Kennedy maintains he’s happy at the club, with his two goal blast at Dungannon Swifts last weekend lifting his spirits.

Baxter has been unwilling to discuss Kennedy’s future following a verbal exchange between the pair but the 27-year-old says he’s keen to move on from the incident.

“It was just a miscommunication, and these things happen in football, it’s the ups and downs of the game,” said the former Stevenage man. “I have a lot of respect for the man (Stephen Baxter), he has been amazing with me since I joined.

“These things happen all over the world and it was a weird time as it was the first time I went on the transfer list.

“I’m just glad now that everything is resolved, I am back playing and getting my sharpness back.

“I’m just determined to give him my all and the send off that he deserves for what he has done for me and the club over many years.

“The team owe it to him to get into Europe via the Play-Offs and send him off on a high.

“I’ve nothing but good words to say about the gaffer.

“We all live with regrets but you have to take a