Reports this morning suggest that Celtic are set to fight off the rumoured interest from Aberdeen in Scott Brown by going the veteran Celtic captain a one-year contract extension.
Brown’s former Hibs team-mate Stephen Glass is the favourite to take over from Derek McInnes at Pittodrie and has targeted the Celtic Captain for his Assistant with Brown also continuing to play. Yesterday the Aberdeen fans were certainly split on the prospect of Brown moving from Celtic to join them with many supporters taking the ‘over my dead body’ approach to a player that they have always loved to hate while another theory was that Brown was a VERY bad word but that is EXACTLY why they should sign him, because that’s what this Aberdeen team needs, one of those very bad words driving their team.
Brown is believed to want to continue playing but would prefer regular football rather than being a bit-part squad player, so Aberdeen may feel that they could be in a better position to offer him that than Celtic. However Brown’s ties to Celtic are very strong indeed – remember he turned down the chance to leave to begin a new life in Australia a few years ago – and it would be an enormous gamble leaving Celtic Park for Pittodrie where he would have to win a support he’s loved winding up on countless occasions over the years.
Certainly the thought of Scott Brown playing against Celtic next season is rather strange in itself and the former Celtic striker Chris Sutton reckons that the Hoops can’t allow their captain to leave to join up with one of their rivals.
“Brown’s knowledge and know-how off the park, his motivatory skills, his leading by example in training and his ability to still perform at high standard would make him a coup for any club,” Sutton stated, as reported by Daily Record.
“He can’t be allowed to leave Celtic. Not now. Not at a time when they are going to need someone with his experience of the place and his ability to unite.
“Brown is a leader of men and, no matter what is on offer at Pittodrie, Celtic need to make sure what they offer means there is not a chance he’ll even think about moving to the North East.”
While Glass is the current favourite for the Aberdeen job, other strong contenders are the former Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson and Belgium assistant coach Shaun Maloney. The former Celtic star apparently is keen on taking the Aberdeen job which suggests that he’s looking to get back into club football. If that is also the position of Roberto Martinez then that would surely be of great interest to Celtic.
Maloney impressed during his recent pundit appearances at Celtic games and has certainly appeared to have upped his profile in the Scottish game ahead of perhaps a move into coaching in the Scottish Premiership.
