GRIFF PROOF HAMPDEN IS ALL WE NEED
I will talk to Bren again about Celts
ALEX McLEISH will hold more talks with Brendan Rodgers over the involvement of Celtic players in Scotland’s summer friendlies.
The Scots travel to play Peru on May 29 and Mexico on June 2 – just a few weeks before the Hoops begin their Champions League qualifiers.
Rodgers has questioned the wisdom of the end-ofseason international double header and called for Big Eck to adopt a “sensible” approach over which Celtic stars he drafts into his squad.
McLeish said: “I’m still to have that second conversation. I need to pick a squad and Brendan knows that. That will reflect on the squad I pick. I’m prepared to make a concession here or there.
“Burnout has happened in the past and I understand all that. I don’t want to shoot myself in the foot and not have somebody available later in the campaign.” CRAIG BROWN reckons Leigh Griffiths’s free-kick heroics against England showcased the Hampden Roar in all its splendour last summer.
And the former Scotland boss is hoping the SFA opt for Hampden over Murrayfield because it will always be our game’s spiritual home.
The debate is still raging about whether the SFA should stay or move when Hampden’s lease expires in 2020.
But Brown said: “With a bit of expenditure, Hampden could be a great football arena once again. If they brought the two ends in then what a stadium we would have.
“Some of the national team players have said they prefer playing at Celtic Park and Ibrox because the atmosphere is better.
“When Griffiths scored his two goals against England this place was rocking and buzzing.
“I texted Gordon Strachan after that and he said that for five minutes Scotland were in football ecstasy as a nation. There was no hint of whether Hampden was good enough then. Leigh’s BY ANTHONY HAGGERTY two goals confirmed what Hampden could be like with some success for the national team.
“We can’t live in the past and have to look forward but Hampden is the spiritual home of Scottish football. It just needs a revamp.”
Strachan left the Scotland job after the World Cup campaign but Brown backs new gaffer Alex McLeish to get the stadium rocking.
He said: “I’m sure Alex will bring those days back during his tenure. He will bring the fervour and passion back to the Tartan Army and they’ll show their true voices at Hampden.”
As an Aberdeen director, Brown sampled Murrayfield this season when the Reds took on Hearts and admits he wasn’t a big fan.
He said: “It wasn’t what you’d would want. The Hearts manager, players and fans would agree.”
Brown was speaking at Hampden as he joined Alex McLeish, Charlie Nicholas and Gordon Smith to launch Archie Macpherson’s new book “Adventures in the Golden Age” priced £11.99.