ANOTHER day, another Deila rumour. The latest which appears to be based on ‘bookie talk’ is that Roy Keane is lined up to take the Norwegian’s place in the summer.
After a Norwegian TV channel broadcast a story that Deila would definitely be going home at the end of the season, interestingly there was no flat denial from Celtic or indeed the manager himself, who admitted for the first time after the Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Rangers that his position could be up for consideration by the club board.
The name of former manager Neil Lennon, who recently parted company with relegated Championship side Bolton Wanderers, was the first to be quoted along with David Moyes and Owen Coyle.
But in a repeat of what happened in 2014 when Lennon left, money has come in for Keane, with the Irish bookmaker Paddy Power cutting his odds to 11-2 third favourite behind Moyes and Lennon.
A source in Dublin said: “There’s been shrewd money for Keane, and the market has moved accordingly. After all, he nearly got the job before.”
The Republic of Ireland assistant manager revealed in his latest autobiography in late 2014 that he had been verbally offered the job of replacing Lennon by Celtic’s majority shareholder Dermot Desmond.
Celtic denied making Keane a firm offer back then, but with the former Manchester United and – for half a season – Celtic midfielder now facing Euro 2016 under former Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, he might well be a free agent come summer.
If he gets the job, Keane will demand a sizeable budget to rebuild the squad.
That was a stumbling point in 2014, Keane saying in his book: “I felt they wanted me but they weren’t showing how much they wanted me. It wasn’t rocking my boat.”
Whatever happens, it is clear that Deila will take Celtic to the end of the season and he has said all his focus is on clinching the Premiership title. Celtic are eight points clear of Aberdeen who must beat St Johnstone this weekend to have any realistic hope of catching the champions.
Celtic legend Paul McStay backed Deila to stay until the summer, saying: “I’ve never met Ronny but I’ve got a lot or respect for the guy. He comes across as a really good person. But right now he’s still in a job so I would just leave it at that and allow him to go and hopefully win his second championship. That’s where I’m at. If you come out now and do something drastic it might some detrimental effect on the team in the last few games.”
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