RONNY DEILA could end up staying as Celtic manager for the next decade and beyond.

Alternatively he could be gone by the end of the season. Three months into the Norwegian's tenure and it is still too early to gauge just how this left-field, slightly risky appointment is going to pan out. What can be said with confidence is that he is a man of unequivocal opinions and unshakeable belief who will not deviate from the path he believes is right. If there are any doubts at all in the Norwegian's mind about the course he has mapped out for Celtic, he shares them only with those in his closest circle.

For his plans to be realised, however, he needs significant others to buy into them and key figures to make it work. Deila does not come across as a man lacking in self-confidence but, as a 39-year-old operating abroad for the first time, there was an acknowledgement that he still has to prove to those sceptical about his ability that he knows what he is doing. "I come from Norway where people think they are only good at skiing," he said, with a smile.

Those who will effectively decide whether his tenure becomes a success or not are his players. There have been comparisons made between Deila and Paul le Guen, the Frenchman who arrived at Rangers with deeply-held principles and a desire to shake things up. His players, however, would not or could not adjust to Le Guen's managerial style, and results got increasingly worse to the point that his position became untenable.

Results for Celtic under Deila so far have been a mixed bag - being knocked twice out of the Champions League goes down as a black mark against him - but there is little sign of the kind of player mutiny that undermined Le Guen's reign at Ibrox. Deila had been indirectly critical of his squad just the day before the Europa League group game against Dinamo Zagreb - stating he believes the Scottish attitude to fitness and nutrition isn't what it ought to be - but there was no indication in last night's performance that his players had taken the criticism to heart, or were sulking in any way.

Celtic scored early through Kris Commons, played with a bright tempo throughout, worked hard and seemed to comply with the tactical instructions given to them by their manager. Deila isn't one for hugely expressive gestures on the touchline but, for the majority of the match, he didn't come across as a man pulling his hair out with frustration at his players' failure to do as they were meant to.

It wasn't all perfect, of course. Celtic had plenty of decent chances to make the scoreline more comfortable - Commons messed up a golden opportunity to add a second after Eduardo, the Dinamo goalkeeper, had been caught dawdling on the ball - while there were also defensive lapses that probably should have led to a Dinamo equaliser. Wilson Eduardo, the on-loan Sporting forward, was particularly potent without being able to find a way past Craig Gordon, while there were a few other moments of anxiety for the home support, particularly late in the second half as the clock ticked down.

In the end, however, an air of satisfaction encircled Celtic Park. Progress in Europe's second competition is not how any Celtic manager will ultimately be judged - even Le Guen made it through the UEFA Cup group phase unbeaten - but victories breed confidence among players, and help build momentum. Deila needs that, rather than a ragged sequence that includes draws and defeats, if he is to convince his players that they are moving in the right direction, and that he is the man to lead them.

The other significant group who need to buy into what Deila is preaching are the supporters. That there were so few in attendance last night that the top tier was closed was presumably not a reflection of the manager's capabilities, and more a comment on the status of the Europa League. It will serve Celtic well to enjoy an extended run in the competition - especially with there likely to be no sustainable threat to their domestic superiority - but it is not a tournament that sets the pulses racing.

Zagreb, the Croatian champions, showed they are a side of decent pedigree, but there were few rushing to buy tickets in the way they would had Celtic again reached the Champions League. Even the Europa League anthem failed to rouse the spirits. Given Deila's comments, Morrissey's You're The One For Me, Fatty would perhaps have been a more apposite choice.

The fans will dictate how long the manager survives simply by their presence. At a time when most clubs are struggling to draw a crowd, should sufficient Celtic supporters decide they have had enough and stop going to the home games then those who appointed Deila in the summer as a long-term project may find cause to reassess their strategy. For now, however, that isn't likely to feature on chief executive Peter Lawwell's to-do list any time soon.

Deila, of course, could choose to walk away himself and stated as much before the game. "If Celtic or Scotland are not ready for [his plans], then I will go back to Norway". On this evidence, his last (fish) supper is some way away yet.