Scott Brown plans to force his manager up the stairs to collect trophy

Despite lifting the League Cup while at Easter Road, the former Hibs midfielder endured the regulation seasons of torment at Easter Road when it came to this particular competition. He might have expected a move to Celtic to increase his hopes of success.

However, even though when he signed for the club they were cup holders, Brown and Celtic have fallen short in the four years since Neil Lennon lifted the trophy in his last match as a player, following a win over Dunfermline Athletic at Hampden.

Now Brown is ready to nudge his manager back up the steps should Motherwell be overcome this afternoon, in what he feels would be a fitting end to an often traumatic campaign. He is completely willing to be edged aside by Lennon, though perhaps the manager himself won't wish to encroach on Brown's first experience of lifting a cup as Celtic skipper.

There is a shared respect between the two men. Brown yesterday described Lennon as having the strongest character of anyone he has known, while the manager has regularly praised his midfielder following games, and paid him the ultimate tribute my retaining him as skipper when succeeding Tony Mowbray.

"I didn't know what would happen with the captaincy," said Brown. "When he got the job he signed a few new players and anything could have happened. But he stuck with me. If a manager stands by you then you've got to stand by him and now we've got to win trophies. If we win the cup then I'd definitely try and force him up to pick up the trophy with me," added Brown yesterday.

"It means just as much to him as it does to us. I know he's not a player any more but he kicks every ball that goes around the pitch and he wants to still be out there.

"I'm always dreaming about lifting this cup. But it's a big game, 90 minutes, 11 v 11 and anything can happen on the day. We've been in the situation before where we went in strong favourites against Ross County in the semi-final (last season] and came away with a defeat.

"We've gone far too long without lifting a trophy. I signed for Celtic to win trophies, to win leagues. That's what the fans expect."

It isn't necessarily what will happen, however. Motherwell have already defeated Celtic once this season while the Parkhead side are also still wounded from recent failures at Hampden, against Rangers in the final of the League Cup and Ross County in the semi-final alluded to by Brown - one of the greatest Scottish Cup shocks of all time.

"It's not only the Ross County game which is a reminder to us - this season Arsenal lost in a cup final to Birmingham so we know anything can happen on the day," said Brown.

But one thing is certain. Brown and his team-mates will do everything in their power to make it a day to remember for Lennon."Everyone knows what the manager has been through," he said. "It's been hard but he's a strong character and has dealt with it his way.

"The support he got from the fans last Sunday was frightening and shows how much they want him to be manager next season.

A Scottish Cup win would form some consolation for being narrowly beaten to the title by Rangers, and provide Lennon with a first trophy as Celtic manager. If the Glasgow side do emerge victorious at Hampden, Brown expressed the hope that it won't be Lennon's last trophy in charge and saluted Lennon's resolve in these troubling personal times.

"I've never seen what's happened to the manager show in him," said Brown. "His character is stronger than anyone I've ever known. If he has been feeling it, then he has never shown it training or anywhere else.

"He comes in with a positive attitude and enjoys the job and enjoys being with us. I've never see him in the slightest looking vulnerable. It shows what strong will and character he's got.

"He's got the staff round him and knows he's got a lot of power, and enjoys the job. His strength is his biggest asset but he's also approachable and understands what the players are thinking.

"We hope he stays."