The day after Rangers took the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title back to Ibrox for the first time in four years, Strachan announced on the Celtic website that he was standing down as manager.

McGarvey, who played for the club from 1980 until 1985, told PA Sport: "I think he was going no matter if they won the league or not.

"In any other country, winning three titles out of four would be deemed as a huge success but a lot of fans didn't take to him.

"That, and the style of football that was being played, was the reason why he had to go.

"I don't think he showed fans respect, even in the little things like not telling them why he played Shaun Maloney instead of Aiden McGeady in the last Old Firm game at Ibrox.

"He has not been a failure, he won three out of four but the team is not going forward.

"I know a lot of Celtic fans who are not going to renew their season tickets. So I think it was time for him to go."

McGarvey insists David Moyes of Everton, a former Celtic player, is the only replacement for Strachan.

He said: "My number one choice is David Moyes.

"If Celtic want to be serious and ambitious, then it has to be Moyes.

"People might say that they cant afford him but I believe they can't afford not to have him."

Former Celtic striker Charlie Nicholas claimed Strachan had to leave or risk being a "puppet" manager amid cuts in transfer budgets and wage bills.

Nicholas told Sky Sports News: "I actually thought he might have left last season.

"I think the writing was on the wall for this team.

"It has been run as a prudence test. Gordon Strachan has slashed the budget every year.

"There are a lot of things Gordon Strachan has said that agitated myself and some Celtic fans but it has been a very successful time.

"But recently he has been saying Celtic were playing really attractive football. The fact is there was no football, the team is not good enough."

Nicholas criticised chief executive Peter Lawwell for failing to strengthen the squad in January.

"Peter Lawwell said the Celtic fans would see them splash the cash in January, and they bring in a guy called Willo Flood from Dundee United, and that was it," he added.

"Steven Fletcher of Hibs they could have got for maybe £2.5million and refused to budge yet they paid £4.5million for Scott Brown, a midfield player who doesn't really score any goals.

"I think Gordon became a glove-puppet manager because the people who were controlling the funds were controlling the issues.

"This team has hit a brick wall and it's going to take a lot of financial repair to get us back to a decent level.

"Rangers are probably the poorest Rangers team to win the Premier League for a number of years."

Lisbon Lion Bertie Auld, who earlier in the day said that "everyone from the directors down" should be blamed for losing the title to Rangers, was not surprised by Strachan's decision to quit.

He told PA Sport: "I'm disappointed. He won three titles but like all good things they have to come to an end.

"I think everybody was ready for it, even Gordon.

"Who will be next? I don't know but the most important thing is the club needs an outstanding coach and he will have to bring in players because they are in desperate need of quality."

Former Celtic striker John Hartson claimed Strachan had been forced out by fans who "hated" him.

Hartson, who played under Strachan at Parkhead and Coventry, told Setanta Sports News: "I saw it coming, the fans have got their wish.

"I feel sad for Gordon but not that sad because it's been very difficult working in the circumstances he has, with regard to how the fans felt towards him.

"The writing was on the wall because Gordon was hated by the Celtic support.

"I can't speak for the Celtic supporters - they are phenomenal - but the majority wanted Strachan out. A lot of them weren't going to renew their season tickets for next year.

"He's left because everyone wants to be happy going into work every day.

"You want to be liked and loved and in the end it was just very, very difficult for him. The fans turned on him and they have got their wish.

"They will now want a big say in who becomes the next manager.

"It's not a criticism of the fans because they are unbelievable but they just didn't take to Gordon from day one."