Neil Lennon has revealed Gordon Strachan's blunt response to his decision to leave Celtic.

The former Parkhead captain called time on his stint as a player at the club in 2007.

Lennon - who spent seven years as a player at Celtic - discussed an exit from the club with then manager Strachan as he opted against being a "bit-part player".

However, Lennon's discussion over the subject - which he approached "at a good time" - was over quickly with Strachan agreeing he should move on.

On PLZ Soccer, Lennon recalled: "I remember going to see Gordon in my last year at Celtic. I went in to see him after the last 16 in Milan and we were there in the league and in the cup final and I thought, 'Yeah, it's a good time to go in'.

"I didn't want to be a bit-part player, you know. 

"I went into see and said, 'Gaffer, look I think it's time, time's up here' and he went, 'Yup'.

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"It's not like, 'Talk me out of it, here'. He said, 'No, I think you're right, Lenny'.

"He was brilliant about it, we had a right laugh."

After leaving Celtic, Lennon signed for Nottingham Forest on a one-year deal with the option for a second season at the club.

However, he joined Wycombe Wanderers on a free transfer just six months later where he played until April when he returned to Parkhead to take up a coaching role at Celtic.