McAvennie: Celtic must hand Brown new contract

Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has exclusively told Football FanCast that the Hoops must keep hold of Scott Brown for at least another season.

Brown has enjoyed a glistening career with the Celtic, winning 22 major trophies, including 12 Scottish Premiership titles, but has entered the final six months of his contract at Celtic Park and could end his 14-year stay this summer.

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He’s featured 35 times in all competitions this term, despite being in and out the team under Neil Lennon, and has still been offered a one-year contract extension with Celtic, but is yet to sign a new deal with the Glasgow outfit.

Following their first trophyless season for more than a decade, Brown will be hoping to get the Bhoys back on their perch, and McAvennie has urged the Hoops to stick by the experienced midfielder in a bid to win the title back off Rangers after Steven Gerrard’s men ended their hopes of winning 10 in a row.

He told Football FanCast:

“He’s a major talking point in Scotland as you can imagine. He had a dip in form when they were playing badly, and got left out of the side, but got a good rest and came back in. You just don’t write somebody like Scott Brown off, he’s been man of the match a few games in a row, he’s been outstanding.

“He’s not playing for a move. I would give him a contract anyway. People saying he’s going into management, but if it was me, I would say play as long as you can, because that’s the best part of your career.

“I would say stick by it another year. He will be playing bit-part at Celtic, because it’s a young man’s game, but Scott knows that, he’s superb.”

Despite this season ending in disaster, Celtic need players like Brown to hang around. And although he’s not getting any younger, his experience and leadership qualities is exactly why he’s remains valuable to their squad.