Paul Lambert reckons Martin O'Neill could walk away from Celtic during the international window - but it should be his decision.
The Hoops icon admitted at full-time after defeat to Rangers - their third loss in a row - that he would reflect on the results and performances as well as his own future plans.
That to many seemed to hint that the 74-year-old may have had enough of the stress and anxiety that comes with managing the Glasgow giants amid a slump in form. For Lambert though, he believes his old gaffer should be given the time and grace to weigh up how he's feeling about what might be next.
And it should be on the Northern Irishman to decide what to do next, not a club decision.
"It wouldn't surprise me if he left. I don't think he needs it," Lambert told BBC Radio Scotland. "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."
O'Neill took responsibility after all three games his side lost including two against rivals Rangers and one in the Europa League against Ferencvaros.
But Lambert insists the players must also shoulder some of the blame. And the ex-Norwich City manager could hardly believe what he was hearing when listening to Cameron Carter-Vickers shifting that blame onto his boss over a lack of structure.
"The players need to take responsibility," Lambert added. "I watched the game and dear oh dear...
"That was cringeworthy, the stuff from Carter-Vickers. I thought, 'Hang on, you're not making a movie'.
"Solve the problem yourselves. When something is not going right, you look to rectify it, you don't look to a manager to say 'do this or do that'.
"I thought that was bang out of order, coming from someone who's been a decent player for Celtic."
