When Celtic confirmed the inevitable departure of Ronny Deila, the air of excitement and expectancy was somewhat tinged by the all too familiar sense that the club’s hierarchy would pluck for the cheapest option and the new manager, by virtue of being the easy option, would have a mountain to climb in order to win over the support.
That has been Celtic’s strategy for the best part of a decade; with every managerial appointment following Martin O’Neill’s departure in 2005, the Hoops board have gradually downgraded the standard of manger in the Parkhead dugout. Gordon Strachan, who had a steady reputation and went on to secure 3 league titles and two trips to the Uefa Champions League Last 16, did not exactly spark fanfare from day one.