Nearly a week after his departure from Fleetwood Town, Celtic legend Scott Brown has broken his silence with a heartfelt farewell message to the club and its supporters. The message comes after a challenging start to the season that saw Fleetwood garner just one point from their first six games and exit the EFL Cup in the first round.

In his Instagram message, Brown expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Fleetwood’s Head Coach and thanked the board, staff, and players for their support. He wrote:

“I am sad to leave Fleetwood Town Football Club after only 15 months as Head Coach, but I would like to thank the Board for giving me the opportunity to join the club last May.

“We worked hard throughout our time at the club, after a challenging start, to continue the club’s excellent record in League One. I was fully committed to the club and was excited to sign a new contract in the summer, with ambitions to build on our 13th place finish last season and record-breaking FA Cup run.

“However, the disappointing start to the season has resulted in a situation in which Steven Whittaker, Barry Nicholson and I have left the club. I would like to thank Steven, Barry and Owain Fôn Williams for their support and hard work on and off the pitch. I would also like to thank the wider staff team at the club, who show up every day to make sure the team can perform to the highest possible level.

“The group as a whole have taken responsibility for the performances and poor results in the past month, but I am proud of the success we shared as a team last season and I expect the team to pull together and climb the table soon. I’d like to thank each of the players for their efforts during my time at the club.

“Thank you to the fans who welcomed me to their club and got behind me last season. I wish the club the very best for the future and I look forward to watching the players’ and team’s progress in the years to come.

“I have really enjoyed my first experience as a manager and I look forward to taking what I have learnt at Fleetwood into my next role in football.”

From a Celtic standpoint, it’s always tough to see one of our own face setbacks. Scott Brown’s managerial journey may have hit a bump in the road, but his resilience and leadership qualities, which made him a legend at Celtic Park, are sure to see him through this challenging period.

Brown’s farewell message reflects the class and professionalism that we’ve come to expect from him. It also leaves the door open for what could be an exciting next chapter in his football career.

The big question on everyone’s mind is what will be Scott Brown’s next move? Could a return to Celtic be on the cards as a coach? His deep-rooted connection with the Hoops and his invaluable experience both on and off the pitch would make him a welcome addition to the Celtic family in any capacity.

While his time at Fleetwood may have ended sooner than expected, Scott Brown’s managerial career is far from over. His farewell message shows a man ready to learn from his experiences and move forward. Whatever his next step may be, the Celtic support will undoubtedly be behind him.