Celtic manager Neil Lennon has resigned with his side 18 points adrift of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership.

However, Celtic are well behind their Glasgow rivals in their bid to win 10-straight titles and slumped to defeat at struggling Ross County on Sunday.

Assistant manager John Kennedy will take interim charge of the team.

“We have experienced a difficult season due to so many factors and, of course, it is very frustrating and disappointing that we have not been able to hit the same heights as we did previously,” Lennon, 49, said, in a statement on Celtic’s website.

“I have worked as hard as ever to try and turn things around, but unfortunately we have not managed to get the kind of run going that we have needed.

“I have always given my best to the club and have been proud to deliver silverware to the Celtic supporters. The club will always be part of me. I will always be a Celtic supporter myself and I will always want the best for Celtic.”

Celtic said that former captain Lennon had “served the club with distinction as both player and manager”.

“Neil has always been and will always be a true Celtic man and someone I will always hold in the highest regard,” added chief executive Peter Lawwell.

“Personally, it is a sad day for me to see Neil leave. Neil is a man of quality and decency, he is someone who will always be part of the fabric of Celtic and someone who will always be welcomed at Celtic Park.”

Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond described Lennon as a “Celtic legend”.

“He has given so much to the club, and with his success over the last number of years – including winning a treble in his own right – he will be very difficult to replace,” Desmond continued.

“We thank Neil sincerely for all he has done for the club and we wish him every success going forward.”

How did it get to this stage?

Lennon answered Celtic’s call in early 2019, when Rodgers departed mid-season for Leicester City, and guided the club to their eighth league crown in a row while securing a third-straight Scottish Cup.

After Celtic beat Hearts in the final, he was offered the job on a permanent basis by Lawwell in the Hampden showers.

Last season was called early amid the coronavirus pandemic, with Celtic handsomely ahead of Rangers and crowned champions, having also defeated their rivals in the League Cup showpiece.

But this term, as the club pursued an unprecedented tenth league title in succession, things unravelled spectacularly.

Celtic were eliminated from the second round of Champions League qualifiers at home by Ferencvaros, and won just one of their six Europa League group games.

Although they won nine of their opening 10 league fixtures, they lost the first two Old Firm derbies of the season, and dropped points to Aberdeen, Hibernian, St Johnstone and Livingston.

Their incredible run of 35 domestic cup wins was ended by Ross County, who prevailed 2-0 at Celtic Park in the League Cup last 16. That led to angry fan protests and clashes with police outside the club’s stadium.

Lennon oversaw more Scottish Cup success in December, as Celtic surrendered a 2-0 lead to Hearts, but eventually won the 2019-20 trophy on penalties, ensuring the Northern Irishman became the first man to win a treble as player and manager, and sealed a Scottish-first quadruple treble.

But the glory was short-lived. Celtic lost at home to St Mirren in January, and despite holding games in hand, remained well shy of Rangers, who are yet to lose a league match this season.

Sunday’s 1-0 loss to County, who were bottom of the table heading into the fixture, sealed Lennon’s fate, with Rangers on the brink of ending their domestic supremacy.

‘A surprise’ it took this long – analysis

BBC Scotland’s sports news correspondent Chris McLaughlin

This is something we’ve been expected for some time, and it comes as a surprise that it hasn’t happened before now, even for the man himself. The defeat at Ross County seems to have been the last straw. The Celtic board have been in talks about this over the past few days.

Lennon delivered the unprecedented quadruple treble, but he has had major struggles with the side this season and Rangers are now just seven points away from stopping Celtic making it 10 titles in a row.

The majority of the fans have been calling for him to step aside for some time now.

It will take time for the dust to settle but I would imagine in the next couple of seasons, Celtic fans will look back with fondness on Neil Lennon as both player and manager – he won trophies in both positions.

More to follow.