Scotland international Kelly Brown to quit Glasgow for Saracens - but Barclay stays

GLASGOW Warriors back row forward Kelly Brown will leave Firhill for English outfit Saracens at the end of the season.

• Kelly Brown will leave Glasgow Warriors for Saracens at the end of the season

The Warriors today confirmed the departure of the Scotland international - which had been anticipated - while announcing that flanker John Barclay has agreed a new two-year contract with the club.

Brown, 27, has been in stellar form this season and has been widely touted for a recall to the Scotland side for this year's Six Nations championship.

He said: "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time in Glasgow and will hopefully leave the club following their highest-ever finish in the Magners League... and look forward with excitement to the new challenges that lie ahead with Saracens."

Glasgow coach Sean Lineen admitted the player, who has made 55 appearances for Glasgow, will be missed.

"Kelly is in a rich vein of form at the moment and will be a loss to us," he said. "We had hoped to retain his services but understand his reasons for moving south.

"Even though Kelly is moving on, I know he'll give everything to help Glasgow win something this season.

"It's been a pleasure to work with him because he is a consummate professional and I wish him all the very best for the future."

Lineen welcomed Barclay's decision to stay in Scotland.

"John has been around for a while now but is still very young so I'm delighted that he's decided to secure his future with Glasgow.

"I've seen him grow into a classy international player and it says a lot about the character of the man that he wants to stay in Glasgow and win."

Barclay, 23, said the decision to stay had been an easy one: "The club is definitely going in the right direction and very soon we will have an outstanding training facility in Scotstoun that will put us right up there with some of the best clubs in Europe.

"I have great friends and family in Glasgow and we have a very settled squad here at the Warriors. I feel the club can go on and win the Magners League, if not this year, then in the very near future."