Former Celtic star Joe Ledley insists that Neil Lennon will always be a legend despite failing to guide the club to the coveted 10-in-a-row.

The Welshman served under Lennon for four years at Celtic Park and won three league titles and a Scottish Cup between 2010 and 2014.

Lennon who succeeded Brendan Rodgers in the hot seat from 2019 to 2021 for a second managerial stint quit last February following a 1-0 defeat to Ross County in Dingwall that left Celtic 18 points adrift of league leaders Rangers who eventually won the crown by 25 points.

However, Ledley reckons that Lennon will always be revered for what he did at the club both as a player and a manager.

Ledley, 35, said: "Lenny came back to Celtic at a difficult time, especially after what Brendan Rodgers had achieved with the club.

"He was under pressure from the moment he took the job for a second time.

"I'm sure there are people out there who will always worship what Lenny did for Celtic.

"He changed the whole philosophy and style of play when he took over the club from the beginning. He set the tone for other managers to come in and copy that blueprint.

"I am sure he will be a bit harsh on himself with regards to not winning the 10 but Lenny will go down as Celtic legend. There is nothing surer."

Meanwhile, Ledley has revealed how former Scottish Grade One and FIFA referee Craig Thomson apologised to him after he admitted that he sent Ledley off by mistake during a match at Tynecastle back in November 2010.

During an explosive Premiership encounter at Tynecastle which saw Hearts win 2-0 both Ledley and Celtic manager Lennon were sent packing to the stands.

The game boiled over in the 56th minute when Ledley was handed a straight red card by Thomson after a tackle on Ian Black which left the Hearts player requiring treatment.

Ledley said that Thomson confessed to him the following season that he had made the wrong call.

Ledley said: "I was sent off by referee Craig Thomson against Hearts in a match at Tynecastle and it was never a red card.

"The next season Thomson came to visit the club to do a referee briefing which the officials do every year with players.

"Craig apologised to me and he actually admitted that it was not a sending off.

"I knew it at the time and that I was felt so aggrieved at the decision.

"The player (Ian Black) tried to do me to be fair but that's football.

"I never held it against Craig.

"At least he was man enough to hold his hands up and say that he had made a mistake.

"I totally appreciated that."