Rumour Mill: Ronny Deila | Celtic | Hibs

Ronny Deila is presented to the media as the new manager of Celtic. Picture: PA

Deila eyes success at Celtic

RONNY Deila was unveiled as Celtic manager yesterday on a 12-month rolling contract believed to be worth around £500,000 a year.

The 38-year-old Norwegian promised to give ‘everything’ to achieve success for Celtic and the fans, adding: “I know what I want for Celtic and our supporters and that is the best of everything, it is what our fans deserve.

“I want to deliver the best attacking, exciting and entertaining football we can play, for the players to give their best every time they take to the field of and of course I want my players to work with me to achieve the best results possible and bring trophies to Celtic.” (The Scotsman)

John Collins mooted as No 2

Meanwhile, former Hibernian boss John Collins has been mooted as Deila’s assistant. Collins, who guided the Easter Road side to their first trophy in 16 years when they lifted the League Cup against Kilmarnock in 2007, has had spells at Livingston and Charleroi, but will be among the candidates interviewed.

Deila confirmed that none of his Stromsgodset backroom staff would be following him to Glasgow, admitting that he needed a No 2 who knew the Scottish game. (Various)

Stars won’t be sold, vows Lawwell

CELTIC chief executive Peter Lawwell gave the club another boost yesterday when he insisted that there was no need to sell the club’s star players.

Admitting that the club were looking at former Hearts and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon, Lawwell was adamant that Celtic would be able to hang on to the likes of Fraser Forster and Virgil van Dijk.

He told the Evening Times: “We are in a position where we don’t need to sell. We don’t want to sell. But these things normally sort themselves out.

“The frank answer is that we can say what we want, that we don’t want to sell a player and we want him to stay. But if someone offers a player four or five times their salary then it turns their head and things become a little more difficult.

“We have said to Ronny [Deila] that we don’t have to or want to sell. But there is a reality out there that we might have to face. We hope not, though.” (Evening Times)

Could Deila raid old club for wonderkid?

STROMSGODSET fans are already fearing that Ronny Deila might return to the Norwegian champions for 15-year-old starlet Martin Odegaard.

The midfielder is being tracked by a host of Europe’s top clubs, but supporters’ chief Marius Paulen Andreassen reckons Odegaard - who has played five games and scored one goal for Godset already - could follow his ‘father figure’ Deila to Glasgow.

Andreassen revealed that the 15-year-old - the youngest ever to play in the Tippeligaen - has already trained with Bayern Munich and Manchester United. (The Sun)

Buck stops with me, Dempster tells Hibs fans

LEEANN Dempster has promised fans that she will have total control over events at Easter Road, as a section of the Hibs support gear up for a protest against Rod Petrie today.

The former Motherwell CEO admitted that she had had a challenging few days since taking the reins from Petrie last Monday, adding: “I’m not fazed by it.”

In an interview with broadcaster and Hibs fan Grant Stott, Dempster allayed fears that she wouldn’t be able to make the necessary changes at Easter Road.

She said: ““Let’s be frank, Hibernian hasn’t had the best on-field results in the last couple of years. We haven’t performed the way we need to. I saw an opportunity to come in and improve on that.

“I wasn’t going to walk away from a job where I had complete autonomy, the absolute support of the chairman to do the job that was required, the absolute support of the board to do the job required, to walk into another post where my hands were going to be tied.” (The Scotsman)

McCoist issues rallying call to Rangers fans

ALLY McCoist has taken to the Rangers website to beg fans to continue filling Ibrox as they bid to return to Scottish football’s top flight.

But the Ibrox boss failed to encourage supporters to buy season tickets amid news that sales are down significantly on last term, instead appearing to rely on the fans turning up on a game-by-game basis.

He told Rangers TV: “The fans have been, and always will be, the lifeblood of this club.

“They follow us in incredible numbers and the team and the staff don’t have any doubt we can rely on the continued support of our fanbase. Their backing means so much.

“At Ibrox the support the fans give the team is wonderful but they have also travelled the length and breadth of the country to follow the Rangers.

“I would take the opportunity to thank the fans for their continued, unbelievable support.” (Daily Record)

Boyd confirms Dundee United interest

KRIS Boyd has admitted that Dundee United are interested in signing him - but the former Kilmarnock and Rangers frontman won’t be making a decision just yet.

Boyd, 30, said: ““There’s been interest from the two of them.

“Aberdene and Dundee United get the ball up the pitch in dangerous areas where I think I can be effective but it’s not just those two who I’ve had offers from.

“There’s been interest from numerous clubs. I’m going on holiday and I’m going to take my time over what I’m doing.

“It’s a big decision for me.” (Evening Telegraph)

News in brief

• Hearts expect to be officially out of administration by next week

• Ex-Hibs boss Pat Fenlon has been linked with the managerial role at Sligo Rovers

• Dundee are to look at expanding their fanbase in North America

• Kilmarnock are set to install an artificial surface at Rugby Park ahead of the 2014/15 season

Rumour Mill: Ronny Deila | Celtic | Hibs | Rangers