LEGACY WON'T BE TARNISHED

MARTIN O'NEILL insists Brendan Rodgers' Celtic legacy won't be tarnished by his epic bust-up with Dermot Desmond.

- BY MICHAEL GANNON

And the new interim boss is convinced the Parkhead power broker's public flaying of the former gaffer won't have potential managers running for the hills.

O'Neill answered Desmond's SOS to return as caretaker alongside Shaun Maloney on the back of Rodgers' bombshell departure.

The Northern Irishman - who won 11 out of 13 trophies across his two spells with Celts - quit before the major shareholder released a stinging statement accusing the outgoing boss of putting the club's board in the firing line with self-preservation and falsehoods over transfers.

Rodgers has yet to hit back and O'Neill admitted his sadness over the complete breakdown of the pair's relationship.

But the returning hero is adamant the bitter end shouldn't tarnish the departed manager's impact.

O'Neill - who will be in the dugout for tonight's Falkirk clash - said: "I don't think it will affect his legacy. Why should it?