Jaden Brown has left Lincoln City, as expected, and is joining SPFL side St Mirren on a two-year deal.
Brown spent a single season with the Imps, but struggled to break into the first team picture under Michael Skubala and Mark Kennedy. He’ll be part of a side battling in Europe next season, with The Buddies finishing fourth in Scotland, qualifying for the Europa Conference League, their first European adventure since 1987.
This is a good move for all parties. It’s one less wage burden for the Imps, money off the payroll for a player who probably wasn’t going to be a part of our squad. For Jaden, it’s a chance to make a move to a top-flight club, a sidestep rather than a drop-down. A move to an Football League club would have been difficult given his season with us, he may have had to step down again, but by moving to Scotland, he’s arguably gone to a club of similar stature. He will get to play at Celtic Park, Ibrox, and even in Europe, so it’ll feel a bit like a step up.
The 25-year-old made his debut against Notts County in the League Cup, then played 66 minutes of out 3-0 win against Wycombe. Unfortunately for Brown, he came off in the 66th minute of that game, and we scored the first of our three goals in the 68th minute. He then missed the 3-0 win against Blackpool, and was withdrawn at half time of the 2-2 draw with Northampton.
He faded out of sight under Mark Kennedy, but came back into the side under Tom Shaw, starting the EFL Trophy game against Notts County. After that game, I said he’d struggled to make an impact, and despite being given a chance in Michael Skubala’s first games in charge, he continued to be on the fringes of the squad.
A loan move to St Mirren followed, but he started just a single game for them, and when he returned, it felt like that escape route was closed to him. Jez George admitted if a deal could be done for Jaden the club wouldn’t stand in his way, and it was a surprise yesterday when news broke that he might be on his way back to Scotland, given how few games he played.
I sincerely hope he finds the game time he needs to get his career back on track, given that he’s played so few games for his last two permanent clubs. He’s clearly a talented played, but I wonder if his confidence has taken a knock over the last year.
We wish him all the best north of the border.
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