Paul Lambert 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 showing him the door.

The former Celtic captain drew a sharp line between resignation and dismissal as pressure mounts on O'Neill after a bruising run of results.

O'Neill, now 74, has already signalled he will use the international break to take stock. Back-to-back Old Firm defeats to Rangers have darkened the mood, and those losses were wrapped around a home reverse to Ferencvaros in the Europa League. Before that came the collapse against LASK in August, when a 4-0 aggregate lead in Champions League qualifying was thrown away.

The sequence has left a manager of towering stature in an unfamiliar position: under scrutiny from his own support.

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

He knows his history at Celtic does not shield him from criticism. Between 2000 and 2005, when Lambert was a mainstay in midfield, O'Neill collected seven more trophies and restored the club to the forefront of Scottish football.

“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 believes that bigger picture still shows Celtic’s best manager since the legendary Jock Stein.

For him, the idea of O'Neill being sacked jars with everything the Irishman has given the club.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if he left. I don’t think he needs it,” said the 57-year-old. “I’d be shocked and disappointed if Celtic sacked him.

“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.”