Celtic have announced this morning that their Women's team have taken up professional status for the first time.

A number of members of playing staff have already been moved to professional contracts as the Hoops join Rangers in the ranks of the pros in the Women's game in Scotland.

The club continue their search for a new manager after Eddie Wolecki-Black departed towards the end of last year but hope to have a new person in the job soon.

Eddie Wolecki Black leaves Celtic Women hotseat

Gordon Kaye, Celtic’s Head of Business Development told the club website: "We are delighted to be leading the way in this area in Scotland and we are sure our move to professional status is one which will be hugely beneficial for the club and our players.

“Our new professional arrangement aims to provide the same opportunities for women wishing to play the game at all levels as we currently do for men - as a club famously open to all, this is hugely important to us.

"Building on recent progress, our objective will always be to aim higher and achieve more success and we believe our new professional status will allow us to do this.

“While we realise reaching the top spot in Scotland may not happen overnight, we always want to be the best in all we do and this is absolutely something we aspire to.  

"It is a very exciting time for women's football and we are delighted to be driving forward with these exciting new plans."

Alan Campbell: Is Scott Booth man to fill Eddie Wolecki Black's role in Celtic Women hotseat?

Celtic finished third in SWPL1 in the season which has just ended, 11 points behind champions Glasgow City.

They lost out on second place to Hibernian because of goal difference.

The Celtic women's club was formed in 2007 and has won just one trophy – the 2010 League Cup. 

Over the same period stand-alone women's club Glasgow City has won 24.

Celtic reached the final of this year's League Cup, but were humbled 9-0 by Hibernian.