SCOTT BROWN should NOT be acclaimed as a Celtic legend.
That’s the controversial view of former Hoops striker Charlie Nicholas who labelled the title bestowed upon the outgoing 35-year-old skipper as “nonsense”.
Brown, who won 22 honours at Parkhead in his 14-year career after his £4.4million move from Hibs, will leave for Aberdeen in the summer.
But Nicholas insists the old warhorse will not be mised in the team’s midfield during the summer rebuild.
The one-time Scotland international hitman said: “Scott Brown will be easy to replace on the field for Celtic.
“All this ‘legend’ talk is nonsense.
“A legend should have been the best-ever player in a position or be remembered for doing something great like the Lisbon Lions.
OUTSPOKEN…Charlie Nicholas has blast at Scott Brown’s legendary status.
“What Celtic will have more difficulty replacing is Brown’s personality and leadership qualities in the dressing room.
“Ismaila Soro is not good enough to be regarded as Brown’s successor in the midfield anchor role.
“The good thing is that the next Celtic manager is likely to be given the money to do a proper rebuild – and he will need it.”
Nicholas, speaking to the Daily Express, added: “Watching Celtic lose 4-1 at Ibrox on Sunday was a sad sight. Rangers could have won by six or seven if they really wanted to.
“The Hoops need a new goalkeeper, right-back, left-back, three centre-backs, wingers and strikers.
“It is scary how far they have fallen under this regime.
“In my second time back at Celtic, I played in a very poor team. My hand’s up, I was part of it.
We had the likes of Wayne Biggins, Rudi Vata, Carl Muggleton and Tony Cascarino.
“I left a better Aberdeen team to go back to Celtic for the sake of it.
“Rangers have done the business in the league this season, but you can’t say they are a great team.
“They are a bland, average side who won the title by an absolute mile. I called it at the start of the season, but I saw it coming nine months earlier.”
Brown picked up his last Celtic honour in fitting circumstances when he put in a Man-of-the-Match performance as the Hoops sealed the phenomenal quadruple treble in the Scottish Cup success over Hearts at Hampden five days before Christmas.
He agreed to join his former Hibs team-mate and friend Stephen Glass on a two-year contract at Pittodrie where he will take his first steps into coaching.
To many Celtic supporters, he will remain a legend.
