Strachan was approached in September with a view to returning in a mentoring role to Lennon, who is in his first managerial post.

After watching his side move to within seven points of Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers with a 2-1 win over Dunfermline at Parkhead, Lennon spoke candidly about the request for help.

He said: "I'm still a young manager learning my way and sometimes it is good to lean on somebody who has been in the trenches before and there is no better man than Gordon but we just couldn't get that done.

"I'm only a year and a bit into the job,.

"It's a huge job and my backroom staff are also inexperienced in the job. I think we've done very well in the job so far but you always look to do better.

"I'm not averse still to maybe having an old head in and around the place now and again.

"Obviously the more experience I gather myself the need is lessened but I don't have all the answers.

"He is still there for a phone call and when you are talking to him you feel as if you are living through him. He knows exactly how you are feeling and the scenarios that crop up.

"You think sometimes you are on your own in this job but other people have been through the exact same feelings.

"But the Gordon thing was dead and buried a long time ago so I don't know why the story has cropped up now. It was two months ago so it is ancient history as far as I'm concerned

"At the minute it is not on the agenda or on the horizon."

Lennon was angered by the attitude of the Hoops fans in the final few minutes as his side held on for the points.

Striker Gary Hooper and midfielder James Forrest capitalised on slack early play by the visitors to give the Hoops the half-time lead.

It looked too easy for Celtic and midfielder Ki Sung-yueng even missed the target with a penalty after the break.

But a goal by Pars striker Andy Barrowman with four minutes remaining saw the home side glad to hear the final whistle as the fans' frustration grew.

Lennon, who revealed Kris Commons came off at the interval with a groin strain, appeared to respond to some criticism from supporters at the final whistle.

"I was angry," he said. "They forget the first 80 odd minutes when we played some great attacking football.

"I can understand the frustration but we are in a title battle and we need all the support we can get at times.

"My annoyance is that the third goal should have been ours and we would have been comfortable winners in the end and everyone will probably talk about the fact that we were scrambling for the win which was ridiculous.

"People will talk about the last three or four minutes but we created loads of clear-cut chances and at one stage we could have been looking at another Aberdeen (9-0)."

The Irishman was also left frustrated by yet another penalty miss.

"I don't know how many we have missed in the last eight or nine, it could be six or seven, which obviously is a bit of a concern," he said.

"There was a wee bit of confusion because Ki didn't start on Saturday so Stokes was picked to take them.

"But Ki was back in the team and Stokes still wanted to take it.

"But Ki took the last one so we felt comfortable with him taking it and for someone as technically gifted as him to miss the target was surprising.

"I don't know how you can address it, you can practise them but with the quality of strikers we have at the club and goal scorers, it shouldn't be a major issue."

Pars boss Jim McIntyre admits his side were let off the hook before they finished the game strongly.

"We made a couple of mistakes and were given the runaround," he said.

"We were lucky to go in at 2-0 down but I said that if we could get the next goal that would make them nervous.

"They missed the penalty which was crucial, it could have gone the other way then.

"But I was pleased with the second. On balance of play Celtic deserved to win but we need to stop shooting ourselves in the foot."