Stromsgodset boss: Celtic got Ronny Deila on cheap

Ronny Deila had two-and-a-half years left on his contract at Stromsgodset. Picture: SNS

The Norwegian champions are believed to have wanted £1 million in compensation for the loss of their manager, who had two-and-a-half years left on his contract.

However, Parkhead chief executive Peter Lawwell flew to Olso last week and was able to conclude a deal worth just £300,000 to the Norwegians, plus two possible further transactions of £100,00 each.

Flo said: “He’s worth ten times more than Celtic paid. But there is no transfer market for managers unfortunately.

“When he wants to go, he has to go. That’s the same for all clubs. There is no reason to keep a manager when he wants to go.

“For this club it’s very important to build up players who then go out into the world. We’ve produced most of the players in Norway. Now we feel like we’re doing the same with our manager.

“That’s important for us, although we were not trying to move him on. Are Celtic tough negotiators? I was not focused on that.

“It was important for us that Ronny had a chance at Celtic so we let him go. If not Celtic, another club of the same level would have come for him. A lot of big clubs were watching him.”

Asked whether Lawwell had snared a bargain, Flo said: “I’m not talking about figures, I’m talking about people.”

Flo, a striker capped 53 times for Norway, added: “The players will understand very quickly that he is a special coach. And everyone around Celtic will know that very quickly.

“Ronny is good enough for nearly anything. He needs a good team around him but he will build a good team around him.

“He knows it’s important to immerse himself in the Scottish game, that his coaches understand the Scottish mentality. I cannot see how he can fail because he’s such a strong character.

“If it wasn’t Celtic, it was going to be another club in Europe. He was always going to be wanted by the biggest and best. We always knew. Within one or two months you could see this guy was going to be great.

“He will be one of the best managers in Europe. He has all the qualities to be that.”