RONNY Deila insisted Peter Lawwell should be exempt from any blame as the post-mortem begins on another season of underachievement at Celtic. The chief executive has come in for criticism from various quarters on a number of issues including the club’s transfer policy, struggles in Europe and for appointing Deila who will leave Celtic in the summer after two seasons as manager. The Norwegian, though, pointed to the club’s competitive record on Lawwell’s watch and believes Celtic’s profile has also been enhanced in Europe during that time.

“I’ve had a fantastic relationship with Peter,” said Deila. “He’s a tough leader. He’s very experienced and fair. When he came in here the club was broke. That’s important to remember, with a big, big financial problem. Now he’s on big boards like the European Club Association because he’s done a fantastic job. He gets offers from other big clubs because they know what he can do. What he has meant for the club is huge in my opinion and, of course, you can’t use money you don’t have.

“He has an unbelievable record when it comes to trophies. In Peter’s time I think there have been nine league wins in 13 years and seven or eight times Celtic have been in the Champions League. Peter is learning all the time as well, you know. Consistency is unbelievably important and he has been successful all the time so I don’t understand the problem.”

Celtic failed to reach the group stage of the Champions League in both of Deila’s seasons in charge but he is confident it is not beyond his successor to do so.

“We’ve had trouble getting into the Champions League for the last two years but, again, that can turn around and there’s no reason why we can’t beat a Karagandy, a Malmo or a Legia Warsaw,” he added. “We’re more than big enough to do that.”