John Collins has claimed that this season is one too many for Scott Brown.
At the age of 35 the midfielder was a first pick in the Celtic side until mid-December when Ismaila Soro was given his chance which he retained with the exception of the Scottish Cup Final against Hearts.
Brown has started Celtic’s last two matches but with results taking a downturn this season the over-use of the skipper has been cited as one of the problems Neil Lennon’s side has encountered this term.
Picking up on an interview with Radio Scotland, The Sun reports Collins saying:
I’m a huge admirer of him. I sold him to Celtic when I was Hibs manager, he’s been a great servant but at 35 years of age, he should have been replaced. I was 35 and it came to me as well. The brain’s saying one thing but the legs don’t get across the pitch.
Brown and Collins were reported to have had an uneasy time together at Easter Road despite Hibs winning the 2007 League Cup with both men to the fore.
Collins was manager for 54 matches lasting just over a year with a similar stint with Belgian side Charleroi his only other spell as a manager.
In 2014 the former Monaco and Everton midfielder was appointed as assistant manager to Ronny Deila at Celtic but left after two years alongside the Norwegian.
Brown will be 36 in June when his Celtic contract expires.
