Former Celtic midfielder, STILIYAN PETROV, has no doubt which way the club Noteverythingshould berippedupandthrown out. Scottbrownshould begivenanewcontract
Scott Brown has been written off by many.
The Celtic skipper’s critics insist his best days are behind him, and that he shouldn’t be offered a new contract by the club.
The midfielder is considering his options just now, and it’s understood he can remain at Parkhead if he wants.
Brown is waiting to find out who the new manager is before he commits.
If he decides to go, he will have several things put in front of him to consider, one of which may well be the chance to be player/assistant boss to Stephen Glass at Aberdeen.
Stiliyan Petrov isn’t surprised Brown is in demand.
But he thinks the Celtic hierarchy – and whoever the new manager is going to be – should make it a priority to keep the veteran midfielder, who will be 36 in June, at the Hoops.
Indeed, the Bulgarian – who won 10 domestic honours in his seven years at the club and was part of the side that reached the 2003 UEFA Cup Final – thinks the former Hibs and Scotland star can lead the club to a title success next season.
Petrov told The Sunday Post: “With regards to Scott Brown’s future, for me, it’s an easy decision – he must be given a new contract.
“I accept that Scott may not be able to play 90 minutes in 40 or 50 games next season, but he will still have plenty to offer.
“It would be foolish to dismiss him or write him off.
“Remember, there are going to be so many new faces at Celtic next season, and all in key areas of the club.
“There is a new chief executive coming in, and it looks as though there will be a new set- up for the football department with a director of football and head coach combination.
“We expect seven or eight players to be leaving in the summer, and there will be the same amount of new arrivals.
“So there is going to be a lot of people finding their feet and looking to settle in. They will look for, and need, guidance most days of the week.
“There needs to be a bit of continuity. Not everything inside the whole club can be ripped up and thrown out.
“Whether it’s a new player, or a new executive, who better for anyone to turn to than Scott to learn what Celtic is all about?
“He knows all there is to know. He knows Lennoxtown and Celtic Park inside out. He can help bring calm to a number of situations.
“Scott knows the demands that are placed on the club, day in and day out. He knows what’s required to cope with the pressure.
“He will know when to attack an issue head- on, or leave it alone and let things settle.
“Those are just some of the reasons why he still has a significant role to play in the next 12 to 18 months.
“Also, let’s not forget, he is an out-andout winner. He has captained the club to nine-in-a-row and a Quadruple Treble.
“He is the most successful captain in Scottish football in the past 30 years, or more.
“This season, we are all aware, has not gone to plan. It’s been far from acceptable, in many ways.
“Scott will be hurting about it all, trust me on that.
“He will be as determined as ever to prove the doubters wrong.
“Such is his drive and commitment and will to win, I wouldn’t rule out him standing on the winners’ podium in May next year holding aloft the SPFL Premiership title.
“I get that that vision is a long, long way off
I accept that Scott may not be able to play 40 or 50 games next season, but he will still have plenty to offer
just now. But it can be done. However, he is going to need some serious help.
“There is a major rebuilding job on the horizon. Celtic need to spend money and they need to spend it wisely.
“There can’t be a repeat of last summer’s recruitment process.”
Petrov is as keen as anyone to find
out who will be leading the charge at Celtic as they try to bring back the SPFL Premiership.
Several names have been linked, from Steve Clarke to Enzo Maresca, Frank Lampard to Roy Keane, Eddie Howe to Rafa Benitez.
Petrov isn’t certain who it’s going to be, but wants to see the new man installed as quickly as possible. He said: “Everything is being kept in- house, for now. That’s the way it should be.
“But the fans will very quickly be looking for information about the direction the club plans to take next season.
“They will want to know who the manager is going to be. That’s only natural. “It’s up the Celtic hierarchy to deliver the very best person for the job that they can.
“What has happened in the past nine months can’t be repeated. “Rangers have set the standards on the park this season and Celtic need to step it up.
“There is a gap between both clubs, but it’s not as though Celtic can’t turn it around in the next 12 months.
“I was part of the Celtic team that lost the League to Rangers by around 20 points in 2000.
“But Martin O’neill turned it around the following year, and we won the title with six or seven games to spare.
“It just shows that, on the one hand, you must never take anything for granted. On the other, you must never give up. “In football, anything is possible.”