Miller moved abroad to avoid toxic Old Firm 'fishbowl'

The potential for toxicity in the Old Firm "fishbowl" was a key reason Lennon Miller opted to move abroad from Motherwell for the next step in his career, says the midfielder's dad Lee.

Celtic fans are currently at loggerheads with the board over the club's transfer business and failure to qualify for the Champions League, while Rangers supporters have called for head coach Russell Martin's sacking amid the Ibrox side's worst league start in 47 years.

Having been linked with both sides of the Old Firm, 19-year-old Miller chose to join Serie A side Udinese in the summer.

Speaking on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast, former striker Lee Miller said: "The first time I noticed that, it was on a smaller scale, going up to Aberdeen. I didn't realise how big a club Aberdeen was until I went up there, and it's the same kind of thing, it's a fishbowl.

"If you're doing well, the fans are buzzing, you'll go to a supermarket, 'Oh big man, you're doing brilliant.'

"But when it's going wrong and you're not playing well and you're not having a good time, they don't miss you. They'll say wee snidey comments, you'll get growled at going down the street.

"Talking about Lennon in terms of being my son in a football environment, he's seen that. He's understood that. He's been brought up with Scottish football.

"He sees the different lifestyles and stuff and that's why essentially he wanted to go away and learn his trade and see different cultures and hopefully thrive and kick on.

"It's a real bad time for the Old Firm just now and the way it's going is toxic."