def METHOD_NAME(self, url, cred):
    import requests
    if not self.is_url(url):
        kodi_log(f'URL is not of a valid schema: {url}', 1)
        return False
    try:
        response = requests.head(url, allow_redirects=True, auth=cred)
        if response.status_code < 300:
            kodi_log(f'URL check passed for {url}: Status code [{response.status_code}]', 1)
            return True
        elif response.status_code < 400:
            kodi_log(f'URL check redirected from {url} to {response.headers["Location"]}: Status code [{response.status_code}]', 1)
            return self.METHOD_NAME(response.headers['Location'])
        elif response.status_code == 401:
            kodi_log(f'URL requires authentication for {url}: Status code [{response.status_code}]', 1)
            return 'auth'
        else:
            kodi_log(f'URL check failed for {url}: Status code [{response.status_code}]', 1)
            return False
    except Exception as e:
        kodi_log(f'URL check error for {url}: [{e}]', 1)
        return False