Former Celtic manager Martin O Neill has outlined his position on the Green Brigade's disruption of the minute's silence at Rugby Park last Sunday.

The legendary former boss also backed Irish winger James McLean, who protests all such displays in England by standing apart from his teammates.

O'Neill has taken a nuanced stance on the situation, pointing out that Celtic fans should have remained silent rather than singing throughout - but explaining why the roots of their actions can be explained by history.

Asked if the fans should have remained quiet, he told TALKsport: "Yes, they should. If it's a minute's silence, it's a minute's silence.

He added: "You should have respect for the moment… yes, just being silent. And I would go with that. But in terms of the wearing of the poppy, in terms of all of those particular things during it, there is that historical point.

“Derek McInnes might have a point because I think there is an idea of having respect for a moment, and because it’s Kilmarnock’s home game.

“But this is historical. We've gone through this here before.. for a lot of Irish republicans and nationalists, the poppy does represent a bit of oppression.

“Way back, just after the First World War; in terms of the British Army; a group called the Black and Tans coming in and just running amok - these type of things have happened.

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“And so that is historical, and that has had an effect.

“Young James McClean has taken a stance there, because of where he lives, and where he was brought up, and that's completely understandable.

“James took the stance some years ago, realising that he was putting his career in jeopardy in the sense that he not only was going to be booed by away fans, but he was going to be booed by his home fans at Sunderland.

“And he went from, you know, from being a hero, where he did brilliantly, absolutely brilliantly, in his first season there to being booed at home. That's very, very difficult to take, but he took that stance.

“I commend James for it. He's a brave lad. He's not only brave on the pitch, he's brave off the pitch as well.”