Lennon: I'm leaving Celtic

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The 35-year-old's contract expires this summer and he had been expected to hold talks with a view to extending his stay, but the Tennent's Scottish Cup final against Dunfermline on May 26 is now set to be his last match for the club.

Lennon said: "Obviously having been with the club for so long, it will be a real wrench to leave, but I have thought long and hard about this decision and believe that it is the right one. I feel it is right to go out on a high and I believe that this is the best decision at the best time."

Lennon joined Celtic from Leicester in December 2000 for £5.75million as he teamed up with former Foxes boss Martin O'Neill at Parkhead and was appointed skipper when Gordon Strachan came to the club in 2005.

This season's Bank of Scotland Premier League title was his fifth since moving north of the border, with Celtic the dominant force in the Scottish game during his six-and-a-half seasons at the club.

Lennon, who has not retired from playing and could seek a new club in England, told the club's official website: "I have enjoyed my time at the club immensely. I have worked with two fantastic managers in Gordon and Martin, enjoyed working with some quality players and had a great relationship with the Celtic board and all the staff.

"I would also like to thank the Celtic fans for their support. It was a boyhood dream to play for the club I loved - I am very proud to have achieved this and played for Celtic for so many years and clearly, when Gordon made me captain of the club I was, of course, extremely honoured."

Lennon could even move into management, as his former Celtic team-mate Paul Lambert did after leaving Parkhead.

Strachan expects to miss Lennon's influence, on and off the pitch, and the Hoops boss said: "Neil has been a tremendous asset to Celtic and a great help to me since I came to the club.

"We fully respect his decision and I understand fully that he feels the end of the season is the right time to leave the club. I would like to thank Neil, on a personal level for being a great captain and indeed a friend, through some difficult moments."