Ipswich Town boss Paul Lambert, once said to be the front-runner for the top job at Celtic, is a long-shot outsider after Neil Lennon resigned this morning.

Lennon ended his second spell at the Scottish giants with his side 18 points behind Steven Gerrard's surging Rangers outfit.

Ipswich Star: Neil Lennon resigned as Celtic boss this morningNeil Lennon resigned as Celtic boss this morning (Image: PA Wire/Press Association Images)

Assistant boss John Kennedy will take temporary charge as the search for a new boss begins.

Eddie Howe, Steve Clarke and Frank Lampard are among the early favourites but Lambert - who spent seven highly-decorated seasons at Celtic as a player - is a long way down the list at 33/1, according to Oddschecker.

That's despite a report in December which suggested Celtic were lining him up as Lennon's replacement.

Ipswich Star: Celtic's Paul Lambert (left) and Jackie McNamara celebrate with the SPL trophy. Photo: PACeltic's Paul Lambert (left) and Jackie McNamara celebrate with the SPL trophy. Photo: PA (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

Asked about it at the time, Lambert said: "That (the manager’s job) is not my thing. I had eight brilliant years there. One or two hard ones, but the pressure and everything that goes with that club is brilliant.

“Lenny is a good pal and he’s done really well there."