For one fleeting moment, a gaggle of media braced themselves for the Gordon Strachan "I'm off" monologue. Instead, the triumphant Celtic manager issued a short, succinct statement tantamount to "sod-off".

It was the first opportunity to respond to the detractors who, at various stages of a remarkable season, had decided, categorically, that he had run his course as Celtic manager. Empowered as never before, it can only be assumed the riposte was delivered via the media to its intended target.

The irony will not have escaped Strachan that, as a Glasgow hotel will fill tonight to commemmorate the 10th anniversary of Wim Jansen preventing 10-in-a-row - a significant footnote in Celtic's history - there are likely to be no such bun-fights in his honour any time soon.

"I want to say it has been an incredible night and an incredible season," he began, teasingly. "I thank the players for their belief and character and ability. It has been the most memorable season I have ever had in my life.

"I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and I have achieved what I set out to do. Now, I want to go and be with people who have supported us and believed in us all season."

Presumably that comprised his playing squad, backroom staff, board and family. What happens next for this frazzled manager was left hanging tanta-lisingly in the air as he departed an overcrowded media room and an undernourished pack of print and broadcast journalists.

It was a moment of concise satisfaction he could not be grudged. This, after all, is the manager who has endured regular aggravation from a band of supporters who have never taken to his management style or even his manner.

Yesterday, surrounded by Peter Lawwell, his ever-loyal chief executive, and Dermot Desmond, the man in possession of the P45s around Parkhead, Strachan surveyed his audience at a throbbing Tannadice and afforded himself a smile of satisfaction.

He has endured more in three years at Celtic Park than he has in the rest of his coaching career combined. He has never been more handsomely rewarded, financially or in the currency of collectable silverware, yet gratitude has been in scarce supply in the stands.

The team will disperse this morning, some for the summer and some for good. They will do so in the hope - if not quite expectation after last night's brief statement - that the manager will be there if and when they return. His dilemma is this: does he leave after being described as "a legend" by his chief executive, safe in the knowledge that his success has infinitely outstripped his popularity among Celtic's fans, or does he remain in the hope of achieving greatness and converting the dissenters who, on last night's evidence, had no option but to acclaim the man they find hard to relate to?

He is in a no-lose situation and will be given enough time off to unwind and consider a situation that has now altered beyond his wildest beliefs.

Three consecutive league championships, successive qualification for the last 16 of the Champions League, all achieved on a budget that pales into insignificance to Martin O'Neill's bounty, will ensure he has his pick of available plum jobs outside the golden four in the Barclays Premier League.

Equally, he will retain the full financial and moral support of his current board of directors. Last night, on a tear-filled lap of honour when the memory of Tommy Burns was prominent, Strachan was entitled to consider that the spectacular scenes are as good as it gets.

After the fevered fall-out of a 1-0 defeat to Motherwell at Celtic Park on April 5, fans bombarded phone-ins and web forums galore demanding his removal. Columnists of varying degrees of credibility delivered their verdicts. He had to go was the almost unanimous result.

Strachan kept his counsel and maintained his stance that he never reads newpapers, although he knows precisely their contents.

The manager does have his supporters, most notably from within the club. His players are unanimous in their praise of his abilities, while John Reid, the chairman, followed up his praise of the man he had said could make Celtic history.

"I said a couple of months ago that what we needed was character and courage, and a degree of unity, everybody behind the team," said Reid.

"And, by God, we certainly got that. I'm particularly delighted for Gordon Strachan. I said on the night we played AC Milan in the Champions League that Gordon had the chance to make history. I took a lot of stick with that because some people said I compared him with Jock Stein.

"I've always regarded Jock as unique. There'll never be another Jock Stein. But to be the only other manager apart from Willie Maley and Jock Stein to have won three in a row, I think Gordon had answered his critics in the best way to do it, on the football park," he added. "And he's done it by trying to play the Celtic way."

Strachan will continue to confound the critics as he did last night. No-one can blame him, but the fact that some of the club's own fans might typifies the conundrum that will continue throughout the summer.