Celtic made an “unprecedented” move by upping their contract offer to Scott Brown at the last minute to prevent him from quitting for Western Melbourne, it has been confirmed.
The new Australian club were convinced they had managed to get Brown to become their first marquee signing as he prepared to sign on the dotted line last week.
But the Western Melbourne top brass have revealed the Scottish champions returned with a last-minute offer to blow the out of the water, which Brown signed to extend his 12-year stay by another two years.
“In an unprecedented move, the Celtic board met with Scott and gave him an offer too good to refuse,” chief executive Steve Horvat told the Scottish Sun.
“He was willing to have a change of scenery and a new adventure. At the 11th hour, they came back with a counter offer we weren’t willing to go with.”
OPINION
Credit where it’s due. The Celtic hierarchy have been rightly criticised for overdue caution when it comes to contracts and transfers over the last year or two. But they were right to push the boat out to keep hold of Brown, a player who’s best days may be behind him, but who offers so much as a captain, midfielder and example to all the club’s youngsters. The veteran midfielder will blow out 34 candles on his birthday cake in the summer but he will be an asset to the Hoops for another few seasons, especially as Olivier Ntcham is inconsistent and could leave anyway, while there is no obvious partner emerging for the excellent Callum McGregor in the middle of the pitch. Brendan Rodgers knows what he is getting with Brown, a redoubtable performer who bleeds green and white, and whose experience of how to accumulate trophies is unmatched by any current player in the Scottish game.