Neil Lennon handed blistering Celtic legend status defence by Martin O'Neill as he revisits 'unfair' fan criticism

Martin O'Neill insists Neil Lennon will be remembered as Celtic legend in time despite a catastrophic end to his time as manager at Parkhead.

The Northern Irishman spent a year out of the game after leaving Celtic following a nightmare season for the Parkhead side seemingly went from one disaster to the next as the bid for 10 In A Row came to a screeching halt. Fans attended protests outside of Celtic after the meek League Cup defeat to Ross County signalled the end of Celtic's domestic dominance, which sparked the beginning of the end as Rangers romped to the Scottish Premiership title.

Lennon has got his managerial career back on track in Cyprus with Omonia Nicosia, leading the minnows to the Europa League group stage and pushed Manchester United to their limit last Thursday. O'Neill reckons that fans will regret the backlash they dished out to Lennon following the disastrous league campaign, insisting fan perception will change on the former Parkhead skipper and boss.

Speaking at the launch of William Hill’s newly transformed, state-of-the-art shop on Gordon Street, Glasgow O'Neill said: "Ok, that last year at Celtic, it was difficult. I make no apologies for this – I am a fan of his, really am.

"Obviously that starts with what he did for me both at Leicester and Celtic and he has gone on and managed Celtic brilliantly. I personally thought – and this might upset people – that the criticism he received grew arms and legs so quickly.

"And I try and think about it now. I was watching these things from a distance so I am not privy to absolutely everything at the time but I felt as if the ten-in-a row became everything, all consuming. And I was surprised…I know social media can do anything it wants these days, and