[Josy]

NEIL LENNON has officially left his post as Celtic manager.

News broke of Lennon’s departure today after almost four years in charge of the reigning Scottish champions, following days of speculation about his future.

The 42-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to relegated English side Norwich City and top flight West Bromwich Albion, while his former Celtic team-mate Henrik Larsson emerged as the surprise bookie’s favourite to succeed him at Parkhead.

Now Record Sport understands that Lennon’s departure will be officially confirmed by the club today.

Parkhead sources are adamant that Lennon has not quit in a row over budgets or transfer targets.

A source said: "It's a sad day, but Neil has been talking to the club for some time about his situation, he feels he needs a fresh challenge and a break from the strains of this job. It happens with every manager, it was the same for Martin O'Neill and Gordon Strachan, eventually the time arrives when it is best for all concerned to move on."

A former Celtic captain, who won five top flight titles, four Scottish Cups, two League Cups and reached a UEFA Cup Final during his playing days at the club, his time as manager has been similarly eventful.

Lennon took the reins temporarily following Tony Mowbray’s dismissal towards the end of the 2009/10 campaign with an unbeaten run of league wins overshadowed by a 2-0 defeat to then-lower league Ross County in the Scottish Cup semi-finals.

He was then given the role on a permanent basis that summer, with Alan Thompson and Garry Parker joining a coaching team that already included another former team-mate as his assistant, Johan Mjallby.

Of the original team of four, only Parker remained at the end of last season with Thompson fired from his role in June 2012 and Mjallby announcing that he was leaving to “seek some different opportunities” in April this year.

During his time at the helm, Lennon has led Celtic to three league championships in a row and into the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.

He has also won the Scottish Cup on two occasions although the domestic cup competitions have remained a stumbling block.

This season Celtic were knocked out of the League Cup at home by relegated Championship side Morton and out of the Scottish Cup by Aberdeen.

More to follow.

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/f...-stand-3587279

[Drew.]

[Brother Leon]

Step up Moyes.

"We will try finish in the top 4" "we need to make it hard for St Mirren"

[Josy]

That's the first person my OH mentioned too

[Drew.]

Good ol Stew

[MTVN]

Fishing

[Ryan57]

Originally Posted by Brother Leon

Step up Moyes.

"We will try finish in the top 4" "we need to make it hard for St Mirren"

LOL. Can look back and laugh now, but they were some dark times.

Into late March and Celtic are fifth... 'I think if Neil Lennon was here it'd be difficult for him as well.'

[Jemal]

Luckiest celtic manager ever.

Rangers would of terrorized his **** tactics if they didnt go into admin.
Its like neil lennon just sent them out to play with no philosophy, just set piece takers and penalty takers.

[Cherie]

The 42-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to relegated English side Norwich City and top flight West Bromwich Albion, while his former Celtic team-mate Henrik Larsson emerged as the surprise bookie’s favourite to succeed him at Parkhead.

[Kyle]

Whoever they get to replace him they will have to make sure he's "Celtic minded" or he's got no chance with their fans.

[King Gizzard]

please Paul, do the right thing and go to Celtic

[Locke.]

"I have and always will have a strong affection with the club. It’s not a question whether I’d be up for it. At the moment I’m only focusing on the job at Falkenberg."

Asked if he’d be interested in the job, the 42-year-old stated he was happy with his current team but added: "I can see myself back at Celtic, whether it’s now or in the future time will tell."

When asked if he’d held any talks over the position at Parkhead, he said: "Let me put it this way, I always have had good contact with the people at Celtic and I continue to have good contact with the club.’"

When pressed if anyone from the Scottish champions has spoken him about the position, Larsson replied: "That’s all I’m going to say, it’s up to you to work out if there’s been contact."

http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/c...ies-favourite/

Looks like Larsson is in contention at the least

[Crimson Dynamo]

thank god i wont have to see his ugly mug or his vile smirking face again. I hope he goes to the Baggies as that will learn them.

[Crimson Dynamo]

malky m or owen c for the jungle jims

[MTVN]

Think Malky will go to Norwich

[Crimson Dynamo]

Originally Posted by MTVN

Think Malky will go to Norwich

imagine Lennon went to West Ham....

[MTVN]

The board should have leaked rumours he was being considered, that would unite everyone behind Big Sam

[Novo]

Originally Posted by Jemal

Luckiest celtic manager ever.

Rangers would of terrorized his **** tactics if they didnt go into admin.
Its like neil lennon just sent them out to play with no philosophy, just set piece takers and penalty takers.

Load of **** tbf, they would have likely battered us with the signings they made since he took over, I can't stand him as a person but he is a very good manager as far as transfers go and in Europe they did much better then they did in recent years before he took over, he always seems to make big profits on every player he Sells as well, Wanyama, Hooper, Ledley, and no doubt when Commons, Van Dyke, Forster, Forrest and Emilio leave theyll make huge profits on them as well

[alex_front2]

I always thought NL would have done better as SAF successor at Man U than Moyes. He's more like SAF than DM.