Ronny Deila urges Celtic fans to show his successor a united front
Thursday 12 May 2016 16:48, UK
Ronny Deila has urged Celtic supporters to show his successor a united front ahead of his final match in charge.
The Norwegian will say his goodbyes to fans following Sunday's Premiership title party as they play Motherwell at Celtic Park, live on Sky Sports 2.
The 40-year-old is standing down after leading the Hoops to back-to-back league titles but leaves behind a club at odds with their own supporters who are unhappy with chief executive Peter Lawwell and the recent downsizing of their spending ambitions.
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However, at his final pre-match news conference, Deila insisted it is important the fans put their differences to one side and give the man taking over the backing he will need to stave off the challenge coming next season from the likes of Aberdeen, Hearts and Rangers, back in the top division after a four-season absence.
Asked what message he had for the supporters, Deila said: "First I'd want to thank all the fans. It's been two fantastic years and the relationship I had with them was very good.
"I wish them all the best in the future. This club is special and they need to understand how special it is and protect it, because everybody now wants to drag it down. They want us to lose.
"It's important we have unity. The players, the staff, the new manager coming - they need time and support. If they do that people will grow and they will get the best out of them and there will be a lot more trophies here at Celtic."
Deila has just one final piece of silverware to hoist aloft at Celtic Park on Sunday, however. His failure to lead his side into the Champions League badly undermined his tenure in Glasgow, with last month's Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Rangers ultimately leading to his exit.
But while the former Stromsgodset boss, who confirmed he will fly back to Norway on Sunday evening, knows his reign will have divided opinions, he insists he was right to take on the challenge.
"What you remember is the trophies in the end," he said. "They are what go down in the history books.
"Some will think I was a great guy who did everything I could and had some success. Others will think I was a complete disaster and should have done better. But that's why this is the greatest sport in the world. It's full of opinions.
"Sunday will be a little bit sad but at the same time it is a good feeling. It is difficult to say what I'm feeling. I need time to reflect on what I have been through these last two years before I can really express what I feel.
"But it will be strange on Monday when I don't have anything to go to. I haven't had that for 20 years. I've been in this game for so long. I've never had the summers off so now is the first time. But I think the best thing is to have a little bit of time off now and to reflect on what I've been through, recharge the batteries and then really get that hungry look again.
"However, if something very interesting comes along that feels right for me then of course it is possible to do it. But I have to have time to find the right one.
"It has to be something that excites me. It was like that when I came to Celtic. There was no thought in my head saying I could not do it. I will never regret that decision."
