Scott Bain will have some extra motivation to do well in Sunday’s Betfred Cup Final against Aberdeen at Hampden.
Sitting among the Dons VIP’s will be Craig Brown- the man that freed him from Aberdeen in 2011.
Bain had spent three seasons at Pittodrie and appeared to be progressing well when he got the news all young players dread- there was no new contract.
From Pittodrie he dropped down the divisions to Recreation Park Alloa where he rebuilt his career under Paul Hartley who was leaving Aberdeen at the same time.
Other than a major fall out with Neil McCann it has been plain sailing for Bain who will stand in for Craig Gordon at Hampden on Sunday.
“I was two years at youth-team level, then I was a year as a first-team pro and then I got released,” the keeper told The Sun about his Aberdeen days.
“I was on the bench maybe three or four times, but that was it. I went on loan to Elgin for three months that year which was good.
“I really enjoyed it there and I learned a lot under Jim Leighton and Colin Meldrum, who is now here with the younger lads but getting released was probably the best thing for me and just going and playing games for Alloa and making mistakes in a league that no one was watching!
“No one sees it in the Third, Second or First Division and that was the best thing for me.
“I had a manager in Paul Hartley who was great for me.
“Craig Brown and Archie Knox let me go. I didn’t see it coming. I think at the time I thought, ‘Oh, I’ll get another deal here easy’.
“It was the end of the season when contracts were coming up. We had a sit down and I can’t remember exactly how it went. I think they just said we were going to part ways.
“But, like I say, it was probably the best thing that ever happened to me. I am thankful for my time there because I learned a lot.”
Bain added: “It was lucky that Paul was leaving Aberdeen and getting the Alloa job at the exact time I was released.
“He took me straight away and that got me playing games and enjoying it again.
“Everything happens for a reason and you make the best of the situation you are put in.
“I worked hard. It was long days and long nights, but it was all worth it now.”
Bain joined Celtic on loan in January as back up to Dorus de Vries before making his debut in the 3-2 win over the tribute act at Ibrox.
In the summer he signed a four year contract and has played in all of the Betfred Cup ties plus the SPFL match away to Livingston.
