Chris Sutton insists Neil Lennon HAD to go but hopes fans remember their manager as the club legend he is.

Lennon resigned from the club after a dismal season where his side sit 18 points behind rivals Rangers following their 1-0 defeat to Ross County last weekend.

It was the latest in a string of poor results this campaign which has heaped more and more pressure on Lennon. Fans have demanded his sacking for a number of months, now, and the club confirmed his departure this morning.

READ MORE: Neil Lennon resigns as Celtic manager

READ MORE: Celtic manager Neil Lennon tipped to leave Parkhead within the next 24 hours

Sutton, a pal and former teammate of Lennon's, has not hidden from the fact that he believes the Northern Irishman should already have left Parkhead earlier this season. But now the former striker believes that once the dust settles on Lennon's tenure, fans must remember him for all the good he has done.

He said: "Neil Lennon had to go. I know this season has been a disaster but I hope after the anger settles down about this season that people respect that Neil has been a great servant to Celtic both as a player and manager."

Scotland boss Steve Clarke has been installed as favourite to take over from Lennon in the Parkhead hotseat with Rafa Benitez and Eddie Howe still in the mix.