Mick: Broony not on wane .. he can be the Hoops’ main man for years Forget Oz.. Scott can still keep Glasgow the Emerald City
SCOTT BROWN has a big decision to make about moving Down Under but former Celtic skipper Stephen McManus is convinced the captain’s career is not heading south just yet.
The Parkhead powerhouse has a dilemma on his hands after A-League new boys Western Melbourne made their official pitch to lure the midfielder to Australia.
Brown’s place in Celtic history is secure after a trophy-laden 11 years at the club but some Hoops fans have suggested it could be time to say goodbye to their hero in the wake of last week’s Old Firm defeat.
McManus reckons it’s ridiculous to think the enforcer’s powers are on the wane as his old club look to make it eight in a row and beyond.
The former Scotland star said: “Scott has been terrific for Celtic. He’s been first class for a long time. He is a real leader and winner at the club and hopefully that continues.
“I’d like to see him stay because he can definitely continue to play at the top level and contribute for a good few years. No question.
“He has been written off before and people will be doing it again BY MICHAEL GANNON because he might not have had his best game against Rangers last week.
“But that was one game. He’s done it in hundreds of others. He’s only just back from a slight injury.
“Scott looks after himself and still looks fit enough to compete at the highest level in Scotland and Europe.
“He has earned the right to take his time to decide what is best for him and his family. It’ll come down to football, lifestyle, the whole thing.”
McManus – part of the Scotland side at the Star Sixes which start tomorrow at the Hydro – believes no player is bigger than the club.
But he admitted Brown departing would leave a massive hole to fill.
McManus said: “It would be a huge loss for Celtic if he did go.
“He’s a huge character on and off the pitch. Great players come and go, that’s the nature of the beast. The club will still be there. No one is irreplaceable, in the grand scheme of things, but you can’t deny it would be extremely difficult for Celtic to find another Scott Brown when you look at what he’s achieved.
“I’m sure he will be successful in whatever he decides but hopefully that will be to remain at Celtic.”
McManus is focused on Motherwell’s youth set-up these days, 18 months after hanging up his boots, but is still watching with interest at his old club’s response to the Ibrox defeat.
The former centre-back won three titles in a row at Parkhead but the one that got away in 2008-09 is still sore for Parkhead fans a decade on.
Supporters point to the blunders in the January transfer window that season –