Rodgers: Door will always be left open for Brown

BRENDAN RODGERS insists there will always be a role waiting for Scott Brown at Celtic in the future. As Sportsmail first revealed, Australian club Western Melbourne want the Parkhead captain to move Down Under on a three-year-deal when his contract ends in the summer. One of two clubs granted a place in an expanded A-League from next season, the ambitious new outfit have targeted Brown as their marquee signing. Celtic have offered the 33-year-old a new contract. After eight Scottish titles, four Scottish Cups and five League Cups, however, the former Scotland captain has already held discussions with a Melbourne representative in Edinburgh and Rodgers has given Brown all the time he needs to make up his mind. Yet, even if he goes, the Celtic manager believes he will inevitably return one day. ‘Absolutely — no doubt,’ said Rodgers. ‘He is a really influential figure in the changing room and whatever happens in the future, there will always be a role back here at Celtic. You never know, he might one day do what Lenny (Neil Lennon) did and captain the club for so long and then move into management, if he is mad enough. I have spelt out to him how important he is here but I have also given him an unbiased look at it. Football is a very short career. ‘I said the same thing to Craig Gordon. We sat down and had a look when Chelsea were keen to take him for good money on offer: “OK, this is what you could get at Chelsea, this is what you have here…”. They are old enough, these guys, to make their own decisions but I can speak to them openly and from both sides, really. ‘The team has been in great form so it has been difficult for him to get in. It does not take away what he gives the team, and the qualities and what he shows for me everyday. I know his qualities and what he brings. It’s the reason we needed him at half-time against Salzburg.’ Rodgers refused to put a timescale on Brown’s decision. ‘I have said it before that Scott will be afforded time in terms of making a decision about what he wants to do going forward, and he deserves that time,’ said the Celtic boss. ‘So, of course, we very much want him to be here. But he has to, at this period of his life and his career, be able to assess the options he has. ‘He will be 34 at the end of this year… for some players, they can pick up a two or three-year deal at that stage on big money and have an adventure for their family. You certainly have to look at it and weigh it up.’