Celtic captain Scott Brown has admitted that he received an offer from Newcastle back in 2010 – a deal most NUFC fans are relieved didn’t go through.
In an interview with the Daily Record, the 33-year-old has revealed that he had an offer to join Chris Hughton’s Newcastle in January 2010 (half way through our title winning Championship campaign), with him also claiming that Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham were also keen.
Here’s what he’s had to say, confirming that he received an offer from Newcastle in 2010 after being told he was free to leave by former Celtic boss Tony Mowbray:
“It hit me like a hammer when he told me to find a new club,”
“I didn’t want to leave. I enjoyed playing for Celtic and all my family were here. But now I’m being told to find myself a new club.
“I had to get back on the phone and tell people I think I might be free to leave in January. Then all these offers start coming in and I’m thinking to myself, ‘Well, whatever happens happens’.
“I had an offer from Newcastle. There had been also interest from Harry Redknapp at Spurs and I was waiting to find out if he was still wanting to do something. So I’m sitting there thinking if I should go or not.”
He’s one of Celtic’s most successful captains and a hard as nails midfielder, but it’s fair to say most Newcastle fans are happy he didn’t sign following his latest admission.
Here’s what some NUFC fans had to say on Twitter when reacting to this revelation from The Chronicle:
“Glad it never happened, awful player!”
“I’m guessing we got Tiote instead so it al worked out well for all parties.”
“Scottish football is appalling, he’s a championship player at absolute best.”
“Can’t tell you how happy I am this didn’t happen.”
“He’s the Scottish version of Lee Cattermole.”
“No thanks, Colback is better than him!”
“Garbage .. we dodged that bullet ..”
Would he have been a good signing for NUFC, or do you see it as a bullet dodged?
I don’t get why you are saying this…Scott Brown would have become a legend at NUFC as he is a winner, will not take any **** on and off the pitch, and a top player toboot, mind NUFC would have sold him on for a profit given half a chance.
Reminds me of Roy Keane in his playing days at Man Utd.
Just a shame he decided to stay in Scotland and not give it a go in the big league.
BillytheFish(Quote)
Dodged a bullet?? If he was your captain, you wouldn’t be as terrible and a unsuccessful as you are..he would have dragged you to at least top5…the guy is a born winner which is something Newcastle have been without for years
Gary D(Quote)
Lascelles is a brilliant captain..
The dodged a bullet reference is based on what so many NUFC fans have been saying on social media since this admission from Brown.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
Yes! Big bulket dodged! Broonie is three or four levels above anything at the annual relegation fighters.
Let’s be honest , Newcastle are a small time outfit playing in a league where foreigners make up the only decent players.
The world cup showed England up as a mid rate league as far as home grown players are concerned. Broonie would have lasted less than a single season in Newcastle before being ff to either Barcelona, Real Madrid or Bayern Munich.
Newcastle? ???????????
Joe(Quote)
What have you done under him??
Brown is an inspiration, ask any player who has played beside him! He might not be Ronaldo but he is a leader of men both on and off the park…oh, and he is in the top three UK players appearance wise in the history of European history…it is our fortune that he never went to perennial underachievers NUFC
Gary D(Quote)
Not really buying that stat re. appearances in Europe – If he played in the EPL he’d be at a side outside the top 8 and wouldn’t be playing in Europe.
I think he’s a solid player myself, but if you’re saying we need him because he lack a captain and a leader, we’re quite alright with Lascelles.
It’s quality and flair that we lack.
Olly Hawkins(Quote)
We are missing one major fact here – he’s talking about Jan 2010 not this summer.
We were half way through a Championship campaign at the time under Chris Houghton, so maybe Brown didn’t fancy NUFC at the time. That’s when all the **** with Ashley first started really.
We had leaders like Nolan in the team back then, but I like Brown.
He’s not the best footballer, and to put him alongside Keane is a bit much too – Keane was far better.
But he has similar attributes to Keane. For £4.5m I’d have taken him for sure.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Newcastle, Brown wouldn’t have taken the step down, a tinpot club in a tinpot league. The World Cup showed the world what the English are at football. They’d struggle in League 1.
When was the last time Newcastle and their thick as mince fans won anything?
Newcastle, a joke shop club.
Chucky Orr Law(Quote)