Former Hoops striker Darren Jackson believes the speculation about who Ronny Deila’s replacement at Celtic may be is “disrespectful.”

Neil Lennon, Malky MacKay and Davie Moyes have all been linked with the Norwegian’s job this week, while Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neil – who signed a new contract yesterday – has also been mentioned in connection with the role.

However, Jackson believes the incessant talk about Deila’s removal is off the mark.

"I think everyone is being totally disrespectful to Ronny Deila,” said Jackson. “He's in a job, he's top of the league and they could still win the cup. Yes, he's had a couple of bad results. Ronny will admit that himself but you can't do anymore in the league.

"A team is closer to Celtic than people imagined but should Aberdeen not get credit for that? Do we not praise Hearts? There are going to be games you lose or draw that you should win.

"But I've been in a job at United when people were being linked and it's not nice.

"I have a lot of respect for Ronny. The European results were disappointing and put him under a bit of pressure but I wouldn't like to say he should be out of a job when he's top of the league and in a semi-final. . If he wins the double, can you turn around and say it isn’t good enough? If you offered Ronny the double at the start of the season he would be a little disappointed because it wasn’t the Treble but he would still be happy with that.

“Celtic fans believe they are going to win the league and they should win the Cups so the Celtic fans want to improve in Europe. I can’t speak for Ronny but as a manager he would be disappointed with what happened in Europe this season. That is the big thing because Celtic fans love European nights. They haven’t had the regular Old Firm derbies, although we have one in April, but the European nights are amazing.”

And Jackson has also tipped the Hoops to come out on top when Celtic meet Rangers at Hampden in the semi-final of the William Hill Scoittish Cup next month – but believes Deila’s side will have taken note of the manner in which the Ibrox side swept Dundee aside.

Paul Hartley side had drawn with Celtic just days before they were hammered 4-0 by Mark Warburton’s side, a result that Jackson believes suggests they must be taken seriously by Celtic going into the game.

“I think Rangers’ performance that day against Dundee would have given them massive confidence to go into the derby,” he said. “It is an Old Firm game and you never know what can happen and there are always upsets – Leicester could win the league, so you never know in football – but Celtic are big favourites.

“I changed my tune a bit when I saw Rangers against Dundee and how they played against a good Dundee side. They dominated the whole game.

“But in terms of the Old Firm game, there are a lot of boys in that dressing room who will never have experienced anything in their lives that they are going to experience. If they win it will be the best experience of their lives because there is nothing like it.”