Boyd believes ‘over-reaction’ towards Deila is unfounded

Tom Boyd has defended under-fire manager Ronny Deila in the wake of criticism over the last few weeks.

The 50-year-old former Celtic defender was appointed as an ambassador for the club earlier today a decision that was received with widespread support and backing.

Along with former player David Hay, the last treble winning captain will take up the role for Celtic and join Billy McNeill who took up the position in 2009.

Boyd has firmly backed the Norwegian manager Ronny Deila, who has come under increasing pressure from fans and the media for a string of poor performances.

Celtic’s 2-0 win over fifth-tier side East Kilbride was greeted with a chorus of boos and outcry from the Hoops fans, but Boyd has called for those criticising him to back him and the players.

As quoted by Sky Sports, he said:

I would certainly say he is the man for the job. Celtic are in a good place, sitting top of the league and still in the Scottish Cup.

I don’t think I have ever known an intensity of people, press, supporters, calling for the manager’s head when we are sitting at the top of the league on goal difference with a game in hand.

I think there has been an over-reaction and I think it’s time that we get behind the club, the manager and the players. There is a level of criticism from media and Celtic supporters, that is unfounded.

There have been some games that haven’t been great but he suffered a little bit in terms of inconsistency of players and inconsistency of selection through injuries and he has probably not managed to get the team that he wants on a regular basis.

Boyd also called for fans to give credit to Aberdeen, who have improved dramatically in the league in recent years which has given Celtic a title challenge – something fans called for.

But it is also doing a disservice to Aberdeen in terms of where they have come from. They have players at this moment in time playing at the peak of their career.

We moan about the fact that we don’t have competition in this league and when we do there seems to be a screaming for the manager’s head.

Times were tougher when Boyd was a player in the green and white Hoops and recalled the memories of the 90’s when Celtic went through the worst spell in their illustrious history.

Some Celtic supporters just now are bemoaning the fact that we are not 17 points clear. I played at a time it was worse.

You go back to the 1990s when I first came to Celtic and we weren’t doing too well, we were playing against what was arguably Rangers’ best team with the players they had at their disposal.

We weren’t even finishing in second place, so we have come a long way since then. We have a club that is run properly, we, hopefully, will win another championship to win five-in-a-row so there is a lot of positives to be taken at this moment in time.

We don’t have a divine right to win every single football match and we count our blessings that we are in a position we are in just now as opposed to where we were in the 90’s.

Fans are growing more restless with the lack of adaptability in the team and managerial tactics, and fan power could ultimately see Deila leaving the club at the end of the season for good.