Celtic confirms Ronny Deila will leave club at end of season

Celtic coach Ronny Deila will leave the Scottish side at the conclusion of the season, the team announced Wednesday.

Deila will be part ways with the club following two seasons in charge at Parkhead, where he's helped the team capture the Scottish Premiership and League Cup during his first season.

"It is vital that the club comes first and instead of me being the focus, hopefully now the team and the club can be the focus as we enter this final important period of the season," Deila told the team's website.

"It was an absolute privilege to be named manager of Celtic, such a wonderful football club, and I have enjoyed my time here immensely. I will never forget the welcome I received almost two years ago at Celtic Park from so many fans. When I joined Celtic I knew I was coming to one of the world's great football clubs."

Neil Lennon, Deila's predecessor at Celtic, has already revealed his interest in returning to the defending Scottish champions following his departure from Bolton by mutual consent last month.

"That's the $54-million question," Lennon, who won eight league titles as a player and manager with Celtic, said when asked by Sky Sports if he would be interested in a return. "I've never hid my affinity for the club so would I like to go back if the opportunity arose and I had the opportunity to speak to the board? Then absolutely."

Deila's Celtic squad was recently knocked out of the Scottish Cup after a disappointing loss to bitter rivals Rangers in the semi-finals. However, a fifth consecutive Premiership trophy looks destined to return to Glasgow's east end as Celtic enjoys an eight-point lead on Aberdeen with five matches remaining.