Andy Walker has hit back at Neil Lennon as he railed against the "self-inflicted" problems caused by the trip to Dubai.
The Sky Sports pundit was the target of the Celtic manager's ire after describing the mid-season training camp as "a jolly".
Chief executive Peter Lawwell apologised for the trip but the manager insisted there was nothing to reproach his squad at a fiery press conference.
Lennon called on the former Parkhead player to apologise as he accused him of spreading lies about his squad.
Lennon refused to speak to Sky Sports ahead of the clash with Livingston having been unhappy with the coverage but Walker was given the chance to have his say.
He declared: "Let's stick to the facts: Celtic went on an ill-fated trip to Dubai, something that they apologised for.
"The upshot was that they dropped four points against Hibs and Livingston with a weakened squad.
"All of that self-inflicted.
"I've got to say there's been a remarkable analysis of my use of the word 'jolly'.
"My personal experience is at Celtic I played under Billy McNeill and Tommy Burns. We went on a mid-season jolly.
"The purpose of it being exactly what Celtic tried to get a couple of weeks ago: warm weather training, no pressure, no games, a bit of downtime. Have a beer by all means.
"But at the bottom of it absolutely you work hard.
"So if anyone wants to regard that as a stag do or some sort of club 18-30 that's entirely up to them.
"My time at Celtic was the best of my career, I feel incredibly privileged to have played for that club.
"I was lucky enough to play alongside some of my heroes, so I think I know what's required in a season where you get the quadruple Treble, the invincible.
"But we're in the here and now and Celtic have got a forlorn title hope and they've got a tough game tonight against Livingston."
