BROONY ‘SAD’ AT SINCLAIR EXIT

SCOTT BROWN has admitted his disappointment at the transfer of Scott Sinclair to Preston last week.

The English attacker, bought by ex-boss Brendan Rodgers for £4.5million from Aston Villa in August 2016, joined the Championship outfit as he neared the end of his contract in June.

Skipper Brown, 34, told this week’s Celtic View: “I spoke to Scotty just as he was leaving. It’s sad to see him go, he was fantastic for the club, but he wants to go on and get games and that’s totally understandable.

“The way it’s been more recently, he wasn’t getting as much game-time here, but these things happen in football.

“For him, it’s a great opportunity and now he gets to go back down to England, be a part of something new and I’m sure he’ll thrive.

“What he did for us at Celtic was outstanding and in that first season he was frightening.

“He won Player of the Year during his time here, as well, which shows how much of a top-quality player he was for us.”

Sinclair, who scored 61 goals in his first three years at the Hoops, started only one competitive game this season, the 2-0 loss in the Europa League Group E encounter in Romania last month.

He dropped further down the pecking order when Neil Lennon brought in Southampton’s Norwegian international Mohamed Elyounoussi on a season-long loan and Mikey Johnston was given the chance to emerge.

Sinclair, 30, agreed the switch to Deepdale after negotiations with North End gaffer Alex Neil, the former Hamilton Accies boss, and signed a two-and-a-half-year deal a week ago.

Sinclair struggled to break into Neil Lennon ‘s side this season and opted to head back down south in search of first team football under Alex Neil.