Paul Lambert Comments on Martin O'Neill's Future at Celtic

Paul Lambert would not be surprised if Martin O'Neill chose to walk away from Celtic – but he cannot imagine the club pushing him out the door.

O'Neill, now 74, has been left reeling by a brutal run of results. Celtic have lost back-to-back Old Firm derbies to Rangers, either side of a damaging Europa League home defeat to Ferencvaros. On top of that came a staggering Champions League collapse against LASK in August, when a 4-0 aggregate lead was thrown away.

The manager has already signalled he will use the international break to pause and think.

"I will reflect on the games," said O'Neill, who was appointed permanent manager for a second time in the summer after two spells as interim boss last season ended in a league and Scottish Cup double.

A serial winner in Glasgow, O'Neill collected seven more trophies with Celtic between 2000 and 2005, a period when Lambert captained the side. That history, the former midfielder believes, should still count for something.

"I'm not immune from criticism. Absolutely and utterly far from it," O'Neill admitted. "I think there's every reason to ask 'can you turn this round? Can you change the whole thing?' I have to kind of look at the bigger picture at this minute."

Lambert, though, sees his old manager as the club’s benchmark.

He insists O'Neill is Celtic’s finest boss since the legendary Jock Stein, but he can see a scenario where the veteran decides he has had enough.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he left. I don't think he needs it," said the 57-year-old.

What Lambert cannot accept is the idea of Celtic sacking him.

"I'd be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him," he said. "I think they give him the option, if that's what's on his mind, if he did want to walk away.

"He's got enough credit in the bank. It wasn't that long ago people were shouting for a statue for him, so I don't think you can go from one extreme to the other.