MX23RW : Friday, January 10 19:03:22| >> :600:104033:104033:

Scott Brown calls for 2019-20 season to be finished on the pitch

The Hoops sat 13 points clear of second-placed Rangers, who have a game in hand, before the coronavirus lockdown.

Celtic captain Scott Brown says he and his team-mates want to retain their Scottish Premiership title on the pitch as the midfielder revealed his preference for the 2019-20 season to be played to its conclusion.

The Hoops sat 13 points clear of second-placed Rangers, well on course for a record-equalling ninth consecutive top-flight crown, when the season was brought to a sudden halt last month by the coronavirus pandemic.

UEFA is committed to leagues being completed but Europe's governing body says "special cases" will be considered, potentially paving the way for the Scottish Professional Football League to void the Premiership season.

Celtic sat 13 points clear of Rangers before the season was halted (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Celtic sat 13 points clear of Rangers before the season was halted (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The SPFL has been afforded the right by a vote of its members to conclude the top-flight campaign but is consulting with clubs before making a decision.

With eight games left in the season, Brown insists he would not be satisfied by matters being decided off the pitch, even though Celtic would collect the title.

"Obviously our preference is to play the games because we want finish the season. Everybody wants to play, it's our job and what we love to do," Brown told Sky Sports.

"We want the season to finish so we can play out all the games and we can get the trophy. We think that if we continue playing the way we were playing, we could extend our lead at the top."

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said on Tuesday that even matches behind closed doors could be a problem, because they may lead people to congregate together in groups to watch.

Brown added: "[We are] trying to stay as fit as possible and doing the programmes that the club has been sending us and trying to stay as safe as possible like everyone else.

"It's a terrible situation we're in, but we're all trying to stay as positive as we can."

ID:397491: cacheID:397491:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:11428:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
James Forrest in action for Celtic on November 10, 2019
Read Next:
Celtic's James Forrest relishing prospect of facing younger brother
>
Read more about Scott Brown Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Celtic2118215775056
2RangersRangers21125438172141
3Dundee UnitedDundee Utd229763024634
4Aberdeen2110473230234
5Motherwell229492734-731
6St Mirren2283112737-1027
7Dundee2275103438-426
8Hibernian226883135-426
9Kilmarnock2367102537-1225
10Ross County226792238-1625
11Hearts2265112531-623
12St Johnstone2243152444-2015


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!