Brendan Rodgers, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou as Celtic manager, has resigned and former boss Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney have been put in charge of the Scottish giants on a temporary basis.

The move has prompted speculation that Postecoglou could return to the club that he led in two highly successful seasons before moving to England in 2023.

He was recently sacked from his second English Premier League job with Nottingham Forest.

Rodgers’s second spell at Celtic ended after Sunday’s 3-1 Scottish Premiership defeat at Hearts left the team eight points adrift of the Edinburgh side.

A middle-aged man in a winter coat claps his hands as a football players wander by on a ffield.

Brendan Rodgers resigned after a 3-1 loss to Hearts. (Getty Images: SNS Group/Craig Williamson)

The beleaguered champions have dropped 10 points in their opening nine matches.

“Celtic Football Club can confirm that football manager Brendan Rodgers has today tendered his resignation,” a club statement released late on Monday read.

“It has been accepted by the club and Brendan will leave his role with immediate effect.

“The club appreciates Brendan’s contribution to Celtic during his two very successful periods at the club.

“The process to appoint a new permanent manager is underway and the club will update supporters further on this as soon as possible.”Stream End Game with Tony Armstrong on ABC iview

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Postecoglou won back-to-back Scottish League titles with Celtic and the domestic treble in 2022-23 before moving to English club Tottenham.

Despite leading Spurs to a breakthrough Europa League triumph earlier this year he was sacked shortly afterwards, primarily due to a poor league record.

The 60-year-old then lasted eight winless games at Nottingham Forest before being dumped for the second time in five months.

AAP