According to the reports from the Daily Record, Celtic captain Scott Brown has a new contract on the table from the club, but he is still weighing his options before committing to a new deal. The club hierarchy though are in no hurry, and they have given him some extra time to make up his mind.
The veteran midfielder has attracted interest (Daily Record) from Australia and MLS clubs, and he would be aware that his next contract could very well be the last one of his playing days. So one can understand why the player might be tempted for a big deal outside Glasgow.
The major reason for the delay is because Western Melbourne, the side which are looking to sign Brown, are yet not sure whether they would be granted a place in the A-League as a new franchise. However, the decision can soon come out, and maybe then we can be clear about his situation at Park Head.
Rodgers though is willing to support his captain and was earlier quoted as saying (The Scottish Sun),”I said before, it’s just time, let that run. If anyone has deserved time to make a decision, it’s Scott. He has every right, if he has options for this last period of his career, he needs the time to look at that. That shouldn’t be taken by any Celtic supporters that he doesn’t want to be here.”
Brown is currently fighting to get back in the playing eleven as in his absence (due to an injury) the likes of Ryan Christie, Callum McGregor and Tom Rogic have performed well. If we are taking a look at this situation in an unbiased and unemotional way, the club should let him leave once his contract expires at the end of the current season.
Similar routes have been taken by plenty of players in the past as MLS clubs can offer big wages and we expect even the Australian side to provide him with a considerable sum to lure him away from Park Head. Brown has been at Celtic since 2007 and has given everything for the club in the past decade, and we believe the fans shouldn’t doubt him for thinking about himself and his family in the final days of his footballing career.
During his prime, Premier League outfit Newcastle United were interested (The Chronicle) in him, but the 33-year-old continued his career at Park Head and has gone into the folklore of the club over the past few years.
Losing him will make Rodgers’ job difficult as he will lose a major leader of the side and even without playing regularly, someone like Brown can have a significant impact. But the signs are there that the club can cope without him and after such delays in signing a new contract, there is every chance that the out and out Celtic man might finally say goodbye at the end of the season.
