Scottish Premier League News June 2014: Ronny Deila is new Celtic manager
Lisa Dillon
Celtic
Celtic have confirmed Norwegian Ronny Deila as their new manager following the departure of Neil Lennon from the position.
The 38-year-old was originally expected to be a number two at the club, with Hoops chief executive hoping that Roy Keane would assume the managerial position. Keane, however, has opted to remain as assistant to Martin O'Neill with the Republic of Ireland.
That left Celtic to offer the role to Deila - who led Stromsgodset to their first title in 43 years last season - with former Hoops midfielder John Collins named as his assistant.
"It is a magnificent honour to be named the new Manager of Celtic," said Deila,"It is one of the world's great football clubs and a club I have such enormous respect for. I will treasure this opportunity and will give everything I have to achieve success for Celtic and our wonderful fans.
"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." Unlike his predecessor, Deila will not be living within the city. While Lennon enjoyed a West End lifestlye and was often seen in the city pubs and cafes, Deila will look for a quieter place to shelter from the goldfish bowl.
He said:"I'm not going to stay in the city, I'd rather stay outside so I can choose if I want to be in the chaos or not.
"I haven't been in the streets as I've been working on other things but I won't have a problem with that. When you're Celtic manager, you're Celtic manager 24 hours a day.
"If you make the choice to go out you have to handle it. I will have the same values of respect in the street as in all the other places. I want to make people proud I'm the Celtic manager, that's important."
Celtic were drawn against Icelandic champions KR Reykjavik in the second preliminary round of the Champions League as they bid to take the first step of three towards the lucrative group stages.
Deila is currently preparing his players for their return and a pre-season training camp in Austria but is trying to schedule a trip to Iceland to scout KR.
Parkhead is in use for the Commonwealth Games so the first leg is set to be played at Murrayfield on July 15 or 16 and the return a week later, although talks are ongoing with the Icelandic club about a switch.
Deila said: "The draw could be better and it could be worse. They're in the middle of their season so it's possible for us to be very prepared.
"It's not possible to play at Murrayfield beforehand but that's okay. It's still a home game and we'll have a lot of fans there.
"Under UEFA regulations it will be the same dimensions as Celtic Park which is important because we want a high tempo."
Rangers
Rangers have signed former striker Kris Boyd for a second stint at the club. Boyd will renew his partnership with Kenny Miller as Ally McCoist's side aim to make a return to the top flight.
And Boyd has insisted that he is a more mature striker now than the forward who left Ibrox four years ago. Insisting that he gave up more money elsewhere in order to return to his boyhood club, the striker has maintained that the best is still to come from him.
He said: "I could have earned more money but it's not about that.
"I've earned a good wage over the last few years and there's a lot to be said about being happy and being back home.
"The big thing was to come back and enjoy my football. I did that last season and feel a lot better within myself. This move gives me an opportunity to take it to another level with Rangers.
"A lot of people thought I'd go back to Kilmarnock and muck about but I didn't. The big thing was to get fit and score goals. I'm hungrier than ever. I don't look back too much, but I want to score more goals than before."
Boyd is also happy to buck the traditional view of his lifestyle after spells in England, Turkey and the USA opened his eyes to life away from Glasgow.
"Last time here I was a young boy," he added. "But you grow up and then realise there are places you can't go and things you can't do.
"I was 21 at Killie and 23, 24 at Rangers and you get involved in scenarios you shouldn't be in. I'm not one for going out any more. I can't be bothered with it. I'm settled and have the kids. I'm a totally changed man.
"If you let Glasgow take a hold of you, it will. But, if you take yourself out of the road and enjoy your life, you can enjoy football.
"It will be a totally different Kris Boyd from the last time. I could go back and hang about Glasgow. But I stay well out of the road now and spend time with my family.
"That's more important than drinking with your mates and spending time messing about in snooker halls. There's no better feeling than scoring goals in front of 50,000 people wearing the Rangers jersey."
Boyd hopes to find the net when the Gers kick off their Championship campaign against Hearts on August 9 at Ibrox.
He said: "I can't wait for the first week of the season and hopefully it can start for me the way it ended the last time.
"I want to better my tally from the last time. I scored a hat-trick on my debut first time around - and as long as I'm on the field scoring goals this time I'll be happy."
Hibs
Former Celtic defender Alan Stubbs has been named as the new Hibernian manager following the sacking of Terry Butcher.
And Stubbs has revealed how Roberto Martinez inspired him to take the Hibs job - by making him a boss in his own right with Everton's kids. Martinez also talked him out of a top Championship offer just five months ago because he felt the Liverpool man was too good a coach to be a No.2.
The 42-year-old has been in charge of Everton's under-21 side, with a backroom staff and resources that would be the envy of many SPFL managers. But he was desperate for a crack at managing in his own right.
He said: "The novice thing is always a label when you first start. I can see why people would say it. The Hibs job is my first opportunity in management.
"But it's not my first opportunity in an environment which is competitive. I was around the first team at Everton for a number of years so I know what happens and how the management side of it works.
"I know what you have to do, how to analyse games and what is involved.
"More than that though, with the Everton Under-21s I had as close to a management structure as you'll get anywhere in top-level football.
"I had my own assistant, physio, strength and conditioning coach and kitman. I had more than a lot of clubs in Scotland would have. That's not me being disrespectful to them but Roberto wanted me to have my own group within the group.
"The only thing Roberto ever said to me was he wanted me to be flexible. Which I am anyway.
"Our Under-21 team played 3-5-2, 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2, 4-3-3, 4-4-1-1 - and he was delighted. If you asked him about the job I did with that group, he would be quite positive.
"I don't want to be labelled to a certain style. I do have my own way of playing but there will be no confusion whatsoever between winning games of football and a style of play."
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