Ex-Hibs boss Collins urges Celtic fans to recognise Brown situation

John Collins has urged Celtic fans to get behind captain Scott Brown.

Brown saw red last week against Rangers and his captaincy has been questioned.

Ex-Hibees boss Collins said: "Is Scotty a natural leader and communicator? No, he's not. He's a good player.

"But picking the Celtic captain was a difficult decision for the manager.

"Tony Mowbray has a team full of foreigners. There weren't too many candidates for who could be the captain.

"He wouldn't have wanted to give the responsibility to someone who had just walked into the dressing room, someone who's new to the city and is still adapting to the team.

"The choice was limited. Natural leaders are born leaders, but you can be trained to become a leader.

"When you go into a dressing room there will be natural talkers and natural leaders, but it's something you can develop in a player."