FORMER Celtic full-back Mark Wilson has urged the club to give Ronny Deila more time to make his mark in Europe.
The Hoops were booed off by furious and frustrated fans after their second successive loss against Molde.
And the the team have now gone nine Europa League games without a win – the worst sequence of results since their European debut in 1962.
But ex-defender Wilson believes Deila deserves the opportunity to develop his side.
He said: “It would be very harsh for him to lose his job over this campaign and I think he should be given more time.
“It’s very difficult for Celtic managers to produce miracles. Ronny Deila found himself in probably an unfortunate situation replacing Neil Lennon off the back of such a successful Champions League period and Gordon Strachan before him.
“You look at Neil Lennon – he didn’t do so well in his first two seasons, but given the time he produced one of the most famous results in Celtic’s history, against Barcelona . That will be fresh in the Celtic fans’ memory.”That works the other way, of course, because it’s that fresh in their memory that they want it again.”
Wilson, who was part of Strachan’s squad who made the Champions League knock-out stages in 2006-07 and 2007-08, believes the Parkhead board hired Deila to build a long-term project at the club.
He reckons it makes sense to allow the former Strømsgodset coach to see it through. He said: “To build something, it doesn’t just happen overnight.
“If it takes three seasons to do it at a smaller club then does he get the time? Perhaps. Celtic is slightly different, but you would like to think the board, having that in mind, would give him the chance to then build his project.”When fans start voicing their concerns then that becomes a problem, because in football, as we all know, chairmen and chief executives listen to the fans.
“Perhaps if you give him time, the third season could be successful.
“On the other hand, I’m sure the Celtic fans and board are aware of the financial clout that comes from the Champions League, and, if given another season and it doesn’t work out, it doesn’t look so good for Ronny Deila.”
