Scott Brown has revealed that he decided at the start of this season that he would quit Celtic.
Last month it was announced that the 35-year-old had agreed a two years contract at Aberdeen as the Celtic clear-out steps up a gear.
It feels awkward using the phrase clear out in connection with Brown but despite his closeness to Neil Lennon and 13 years at the club the captain knew that the 2020/21 campaign would be his last.
Peter Lawwell and Lennon are part of the clear out with Jeremy Frimpong, Hatem Abd Elhamed and Patryk Klimala all moved on since the turn of the year.
Brown played his final Celtic match yesterday against Hibs, afterwards he told The Sun:
My mind was made up at the start of the season. For me, I wanted a new challenge. I knew it was either go and do ten, or finish on nine with a quadruple Treble.
I wanted to give it one last go, and see it as far as I possibly could. The board and everyone upstairs have been fantastic with me. They offered me a new deal to stay and be part of it, but I wanted to see how it worked with a different club.
I had a fantastic time at Hibs. I came to Celtic eventually and had a fantastic time. Now it’s for me to try to push Aberdeen as far as I possibly can and look forward to the future in coaching, with a little bit of playing as well.
Brown will join Aberdeen this week on a two year contract as part of the coaching team put together by new Dons boss Stephen Glass.
The Pittodrie side have a rebuilding job similar to Celtic but with a management team in place the process is well underway.