Scott Brown, a club legend and former captain of Celtic, was a major factor in his recent loan departure from the Hoops.
Josh Clarke, the goalie, joined Brown’s Ayr at the end of last month. He was much praised for his four penalty saves made at Ibrox during the B team’s Glasgow Cup final last season.
Although the transfer was unexpected, Clarke has disclosed that a significant portion of it was due to his new gaffer. The stopper told That’s TV Scotland, “The manager has obviously played a significant role in me coming here.”
“He was a fantastic player at my parent club, Celtic, so it’s a great opportunity for me to come play with him for a well-respected team like Ayr United.”
Clarke has made five appearances in the Championship thus far with The Honest Men. He has contributed to wins against Inverness and Partick Thistle, but he hasn’t yet maintained a clean sheet.
The “keeper,” a Northern Irish young internationalist, was born in London and is qualified to play for Sweden.
His Celtic contract expires in the summer, and it remains to be seen if he will receive a two-year extension. He signed the original contract in 2022.
The 19-year-old, though, will be concentrating on the field tonight. Fans can watch Clarke live on the BBC as Brown’s Ayr takes on Airdrie.