Former Celtic star Paul Lambert has sent a warning to the club's new chief executive Dominic McKay ahead of what will be one of the most crucial summers in Celtic's recent history.

Lambert warns McKay

Neil Lennon resigned as the club's manager on Wednesday morning and Peter Lawwell had previously announced that he would be leaving Parkhead at the end of the season too - paving the way for a whole new era.

Various names have been mentioned to be in the frame for the role, Sky Sports' Jim White stated that Scotland manager Steve Clarke, Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez and former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez are names who could be targetted by the Hoops.

Back in Decemeber, Paul Lambert was also linked with a move to Celtic, and he's recently been speaking about his former club.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Lambert did not mix his words while discussing the seismic task that McKay has at Parkhead.

"Rugby is a totally different sport," he said. "If he thinks he will go in there and get applauded from everybody, that doesn't quite work in the Glasgow goldfish bowl.

"He's going to have to hit the ground running. He's going to have to win. Peter Lawwell did a fantastic job [in that role] over the last few years.

"At Celtic, you have to win. It doesn't matter if Barcelona, Manchester United or Manchester City came to town tomorrow. The fans expect you to win. Some people can't handle it. Can you win title after title?

"You have to realise, if you finish second, you fail. The new chief executive needs to look at the bigger picture. You have to get trophies back and get the pendulum swinging back your way."

When asked whether he would consider becoming the next Celtic manager, he said: "That's not my life anymore. I don't want to tarnish the good feelings I have with the Celtic fans.

"We won a hell of a lot, stopping Rangers win 10-in-a-row in 1998. That was an incredible achievement. Maybe I'll go back as a fan, that's all I can say."

Transfer Tavern Verdict

Lambert is spot on here. It is going to be a massive summer for the green and white side of Glasgow, a summer that McKay simply has to get right from every angle.

If next season is similar to the 2020/21 campaign, then McKay will automatically be an unpopular figure with the Hoops supporters almost immediately, which he will obviously be keen to avoid.

The task ahead is enormous and McKay simply cannot afford to fail at the first attempt - or it could be a long way back for him.

In other news, Sky Sports journalist names surprising contender to potentially replace Neil Lennon.