Norwegian Deila to leave Celtic in summer
Club say it was the manager's decision
Celtic are in line to win fifth consecutive title
I'll sign off now.
The news broke this morning that Celtic manager Ronny Deila is to leave the club at the end of the season.
The Norwegian is on course to deliver his second title in two seasons but disappointing results in the domestic cups and in Europe have played a part in his exit.
We should hear from him at a media conference tomorrow lunchtime.
Neil Lennon
He knows what it's all about. Would Celtic fans welcome a return from the 44-year-old?
His four-year reign with the Hoops ended less than two years ago. A former captain, he guided them to three Premier Leagues and two Scottish Cups, as well as successive appearances in the group stages of the Champions League.
Available after an unsuccessful 17-month spell with struggling Bolton - and has admitted he would be interested in talking to the board.
Image source, SNSFrank Love on Facebook:, external "Make Larsson an offer he can't refuse!"
Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland
"When it comes to auditing Deila's time as Celtic manager the ledger is lopsided, the debits outweighing the credits to such a vast extent that the Norwegian could have no legitimate excuses when the announcement came."
You can read more from Tom here...
Tom English
BBC Sport Scotland
"Celtic have lost their way, that's obvious. They have given game-time to 34 players in the Premiership this season. Leicester's number, by comparison, is 23."
You can read more from Tom here...
Michael O'Neill
The 46-year-old former Brechin and Shamrock Rovers boss is busy preparing to lead Northern Ireland at Euro 2016.
There would be compensation issues with him recently agreeing a long contract with the Irish Football Association.
Image source, SNSWe got a statement from Rony Deila today but we might hear more from him tomorrow, with the club calling a media conference for 12:15.
That is sure to be well attended...
Malky MacKay
The 44-year-old is another to speak positively about the job recently and, like Moyes, is currently available.
The former Celtic centre-half led Cardiff to the Premier League in 2013 but was sacked after a high-profile dispute with club owner Vincent Tan.
His next appointment, at Wigan, ended a little more than a year ago after five largely disappointing months.
David Moyes
The Scot is the favourite with bookmakers.
Now 52, he started his playing career at Celtic in 1980 but left for Cambridge three years later. However, it is as a manager he is best known, managing Preston before a nine-year stint at Everton, which was followed by an ill-fated 10-month reign at Manchester United after Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
Out of work since November, when a stint as boss of Real Sociedad ended after 364 days.
Image source, SNSRoy Keane
So what about the list of contenders?
Celtic wanted the former Manchester United midfielder in 2014 before turning their attention to Ronny Deila.
Keane, 44, ended his playing career at Celtic in 2006 but turned down the chance to succeed Lennon as boss because he did not feel they wanted him enough.
He led Sunderland from the bottom of the Championship to the top but failed to make an impression with them in the Premier League, before an anticipated promotion challenge at Ipswich failed to materialise and he left after less than two years in the job.
Currently assistant to former Hoops boss Martin O'Neill with the Republic of Ireland.
Image source, SNSThe 40-year-old may be forgiven if he wants to take some time out after a turbulent two years in Glasgow...
Will he return to Norway, where he played for Odd, Viking and Strømsgodset?
During his time coaching at Strømsgodset, he rejected an approach from Swedish side Malmo.
Celtic are eight points clear of Aberdeen, with the final post-split fixtures to go...
Ross County (H)
Hearts (A)
Aberdeen (H)
St Johnstone (A)
Motherwell (H)
Another Premiership success would make it five-in-a-row for the Glasgow giants.
#bbcsportscot
Robert McCluskie on Facebook, external: "The media gave this man a hard time. Why didn't the same media criticise Gary Locke for the dreadful job he was doing at Killie or Ally McCoist for doing likewise at Rangers? In my opinion the media don't want to tell the truth about their pals but a foreign manager is easy prey. Racism springs to mind."
Below are the thoughts of Chris Sutton, another former Celtic player giving his views on the managerial situation at the club.
He said: "The better team won on Sunday and that’s a wake-up call for Celtic. Celtic should have made the [managerial] change before the January window, but they didn’t, they kept on.
"There has been a regression, it’s got that bad the way Celtic have performed this season. When that happens, they’re on the decline and they see the likes of Rangers and Aberdeen have got closer to them. They need someone to come in and shake things up.
"Have performances been good enough this season? Come on, they haven’t. In Europe, Celtic have failed time and time again, in the big games Celtic have failed time and time again. The level of performance this season has gone backwards.
"Ronny’s a nice guy, but enough is enough."
Image source, SNSChris Sutton feels Celtic were mistaken to continue with Ronny Deila in position at the start of the year
Football
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Scottish Sun are reporting, external that Leeds United boss and Celtic supporter Steve Evans is being considered by the Parkhead board as a potential replacement for Ronny Deila.
Here are the odds for who might replace Deila at Celtic. Seven of the top 10 on the bookies' list played for the club.
David Moyes 5-4F
Neil Lennon 5-2/9-4
Roy Keane 6-1
Owen Coyle 8-1
Michael O’Neill 10-1
Alan Stubbs 12-1
Henrik Larsson 12-1
Paul Lambert 14-1
Brendan Rodgers 16-1
Malky Mackay 20-1
Image source, SNSThe former Norwich and Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert is currently some way down the list of favourites to replace Ronny Deila
BBC Scotland tracks the highs and lows of Ronny Deila's time at Celtic.
One of Lennon's former partners in the Celtic midfield, Stiliyan Petrov, offers some sympathy to Ronny Deila.
The Bulgarian said: "[With] Rangers not being there, they’ve become a little bit sloppy, they haven’t spent well enough, they haven’t rebuilt well enough and I don’t think there’s a big gap there. Rangers can go out next season and fancy themselves for the title.
"The Celtic manager didn’t have enough time to show his work. With the magnitude of the club, people will always expect more. He’s done well, he’s going to win the league. If someone turns round and says, you haven’t done a good job, he can say, well we’ve won the league.
"For Celtic Football Club, when that offer comes to anyone, they will take it. They will choose (the next manager) very carefully because they know how important it will be for Celtic."
Image source, SNSStiliyan Petrov and Neil Lennon were playing at the John Hartson Foundation golf day when news broke of Deila's summer exit
Former Celtic midfielder and manager Neil Lennon said of the defeat by Rangers in the Scottish Cup semi-final: "The acid test was Sunday and although they lost in sudden death penalty kicks, I think the overall performance was disappointing from Celtic's point of view.
"It is a very unforgiving environment at times. But I just think Celtic this season haven't handled the big games as well as they normally do.
"I think Ronny will be far better off with the experience. If you can manage here for a couple of years or whatever length of time it is, it will stand you in good stead for whatever walk of football you want to go into after that. I am hoping Ronny will be able to enjoy his last month or two as manager and get over the line with another championship, that would be a nice way to finish off."