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

Paul Lambert says he would not be surprised if Martin O'Neill chose to walk away from Celtic – but insists he would be "shocked and disappointed" if the club decided to sack their manager.

O'Neill, 74, has been rocked by a grim run: back-to-back Old Firm defeats to Rangers wrapped around a home loss to Ferencvaros in the Europa League, and the scars are still fresh from August’s Champions League collapse against LASK, when a 4-0 aggregate lead was thrown away.

With the international break now under way, O'Neill has made it clear he will use the pause to reassess.

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

O'Neill, who lifted seven more trophies with Celtic between 2000 and 2005 while Lambert was part of his side, did not try to dodge the scrutiny.

"I'm not immune from criticism. Absolutely and utterly far from it," he said. "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, now 57, believes that bigger picture still reflects a giant of the club’s modern era.

He calls O'Neill Celtic's best manager since the legendary Jock Stein, but senses the veteran coach may decide he has had enough.

"It wouldn't surprise me if he left. I don't think he needs it," Lambert said.

What he cannot accept is the notion of Celtic pushing O'Neill towards the exit.

"I'd be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him," Lambert stressed. "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.

"If he wants to go, then he goes himself."