Scott Brown linked with playing return 18 months after ‘retiring’

Scott Brown is reported to be considering a playing return after joining in training last week with Spartans.

The legendary skipper played his final match for Celtic in May 2021 before moving to Aberdeen in a player-coach capacity.

When Stephen Glass was sacked by Aberdeen Brown decided to step down with his former team-mate, making the last of 32 appearances for the Dons at the start of March 2022.

The Fifer enjoyed a respectable first season in management at Fleetwood Town in League One last season but was sacked at the start of September.

Brown is keen to get back into management but after more than 20 years at the sharp end of the game there is speculation over a playing return with the SPFL’s newest club.

Discussing the legendary Celtic captain, The Scotsman reports:

It is understood that the midfielder, who enjoyed a run out in David Gray’s recent testimonial match, is feeling out the possibility of a playing return – with League Two side The Spartans.

The player already has familial ties with the ambitious capital club, with his son part of the youth set up. But, impressed by reports of the way the side, who made their SPFL debut this season, like to play, he has joined in training.

While he has made it clear that his priority remains a future in management, experiences at Fleetwood have alerted him to the need to make smart choices as he weighs up his next job.

In the meantime, he trained with the Ainslie Park first team on Tuesday night, just days after conducting the Scottish Cup draw, pairing Dougie Samuel’s men with Arbroath in the next round.

Brown has been linked with the vacant manager’s job at St Johnstone but that looks like one to avoid with an experienced fire fighter needed to rescue the Perth side who are five points adrift at the bottom of the Premiership table with four drawns and five defeats from nine matches.