Celtic have announced the process of appointing a new manager is formally under way following their final game of the season at Hearts.
Chairman John Reid issued a statement in which he revealed the club had delayed making a decision on who should replace Tony Mowbray until interim boss Neil Lennon had been given the opportunity to prove his own credentials.
"On behalf of the Celtic board and supporters, I want to extend my thanks to Neil Lennon and his team for taking on the daunting challenge of completing the SPL season and for the way in which this was done," Reid said in a statement on the club's website. "The board will now turn to the formal process of considering the appointment of a new manager."
He added: "We intentionally delayed starting that process until this moment out of fairness and courtesy to Neil.
"This is a big and important decision, and will require a thorough consideration.
"But I am well aware that our fans would like us to complete the process as speedily as possible - commensurate with full consideration - and we will try to do that."
Despite having no prior managerial experience, Lennon is the favourite to land the job permanently after winning all eight of his Clydesdale Bank Premier League games in charge, including Tuesday night's last Old Firm derby of the campaign.
The one black mark against the 38-year-old - admittedly a huge one - was last month's shock Active Nation Scottish Cup semi-final defeat to Ross County, which left the club without a trophy for the first time in seven years.
Source: PA
