The former Hoops boss has revisited the debate after Fleetwood fans poured onto the park to celebrate one of the biggest victories in the club's history, arguing it backs up his claim that such scenes are a recurring part of football and not an issue unique to Celtic.

His comments come in the wake of Celtic's unsuccessful appeal against an SFA punishment stemming from the scenes following their Scottish Cup win at Ibrox in March. But O'Neill was not defending supporter disorder or taking issue with sanctions. Instead, he stressed that the Parkhead title celebrations last season would never be the final example of supporters spilling onto a pitch.

O'Neill said: "That is true. But again, I get back to the back end of last season when our crowd invaded the pitch.

"I said at the time that I didn't think that would be the last time it would ever be done.

"Everybody thought it was one of the greatest moments in football supporters' lives, which it was as well.

"I'm not a soothsayer, but I knew there'd be another pitch invasion before I departed this earth."

The Irishman believes the scenes at Fleetwood have underlined his point that emotional supporters will continue to enter the field after landmark victories, regardless of the criticism that often follows.

O'Neill also reiterated his view that football loses something when supporters are locked out of Old Firm fixtures, although he accepted those decisions lie with the authorities.

He said: "I think that the football club put out a statement and I would be in agreement with that statement.

"For me, you're talking about Celtic-Rangers games, the big, big matches. They're massive throughout the world and it's something lost when the away fans don't travel to the games.

"I've stated that umpteen times and I'm sticking with that. But I'm not in charge of those things.

"If that's the rules now and that's the way it's going to be, if there's going to be no away fans in the stadium for the next number of years, that's certainly out of my control.

"If the authorities think that's the best thing to do, then that's fine."