Scott Brown keen on Irish Under 21 midfielder released by Celtic

The release of Luca Connell from Celtic probably came as no surprise, after all when you’ve been out at loan to Queens Park twice the writing was probably on the wall in terms of any long-term future with Celtic.

Yet Connell is definitely a talented footballer, and just because you don’t quite make the grade at Celtic where the demands are so high, it doesn’t mean a successful football career doesn’t still await you.

And it looks like Luca Connell has an admirer of his talents in the shape of former Celtic legend Scott Brown, who Scottish Sun is reporting holds an interest in bringing Connell to Fleetwood Town, as Broony looks to strengthen his squad ahead of his first season in football management.

Brown has already made a cross border raid to sign Shaun Rooney from St Johnstone and now it could well be Luca Connell’s time without a club should be minimal with a chance to link up with his former captain now a possibility.

Connell signed for Celtic in a £350k compensation deal from Bolton Wanderers, and after an impressive showing in a friendly game with Hibs at Celtic Park he certainly looked like a player with good technical ability who would likely kick on and make an impact at Celtic.

The fact he and the likes of Karamoko Dembele – another player expected to make a first team breakthrough, but was also released this week – haven’t made the grade, should be enough for Celtic to examine the pathway plans for these young players and ask why such obvious footballing talent doesn’t make the next step.

There will no doubt be reasons why both players were deemed surplus to requirements, but in the case of Connell who was already playing first team football in the Championship with Bolton at 17, and being considered for selection by the Irish national team, some of the reasons for the failure of these players to progress will likely lie with Celtic as much as it does with the individual players attitudes or abilities.

The releasing of players like Connell and Dembele should mean Celtic have a look at their own processes behind the scenes and ask ourselves if we truly are giving them everything they need when it comes to maximising their potential – and whether any flaws were fully examined prior to signing the players in the first place.

With Ange Postecoglou seemingly receiving a great deal of autonomy over footballing affairs, it seems a great deal of change is happening behind the scenes at Celtic now. That may well be occurring too late for the likes of Luca Connell and Karamoke Dembele, but hopefully it will make for better career development pathways for those they leave behind or are due to join the club this summer.

Meanwhile Celtic’s young players chances of playing Lowland League football next season hang in the balance.

WREXHAM, WALES – MARCH 26: Rubin Colwill of Wales U21 battles for the ball with Luca Connell of Republic of Ireland during the International Friendly match between Wales U21 and Republic of Ireland U21 at the Racecourse Ground on March 26, 2021 in Wrexham, Wales. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

With a vote occurring tomorrow, we’ll hear if Celtic’s decision to issue an ultimatum alongside theRangers and Hearts will result in the Lowland League closing the door on Celtic’s B-Team getting competitive league football next season, or whether Lowland League clubs will bow to threats, in exchange for £40k from each of the three top fight clubs, and allow Celtic’s youngsters to have a league to play and develop in next season.

Niall J

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About Author

As a Bellshill Bhoy I was taken to my first Celtic game in the summer of 1987. It was Billy McNeill’s return to Celtic Park as manager and Celtic lost 5-1 to Arsenal . I thought I was a jinx, I think my Grandfather might have thought the same. It was the finest gift anyone ever gave me when he walked me through Parkhead's gates.

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