Celtic boss hits back in Walker row

Celtic manager Neil Lennon has launched a vehement defence of his transfer record and his team's second-leg display against Sporting Braga as he hit back at former Hoops striker Andy Walker.

Walker, now a pundit, claimed Celtic's Champions League campaign "ended with a whimper" as they lost 4-2 on aggregate to Braga in the third qualifying round.

The former Bolton player also criticised Lennon's summer signings but Lennon, without naming Walker, has reacted angrily in an interview posted on the club's official website.

The Irishman said: "I picked up a tabloid today and it was ex-players who were wearing a Celtic shirt at a promotional event for Tennent's and getting paid good money for it and then going ahead and putting the boot into the team, the club, the board and myself.

"One particular player criticised my signing policy.

"I said I was trying to bring British and Irish players into the club which I have done - Joe Ledley, Charlie Mulgrew, Daryl Murphy and Gary Hooper.

"I did try to go after (Jimmy) Bullard, (David) James and (Sol) Campbell but I was unsuccessful with that.

"He said we went out of the competition with a whimper and he also said we didn't have a sustained amount of pressure and there was a lack of crosses against Braga, which was, again, a falsehood. We put 37 crosses in. We scored from two and had 65 per cent possession. I am not big on stats, but I have to use these to back up what I said after the game."