Scott Brown splits Fleetwood stars as Celtic hero sacking leaves 'strange' aura amid faction floored by exit

Scott Brown's hasty Fleetwood Town sacking has left the League One squad split as some are left on the floor by his exit - while others are up off the canvas.

Just six games into the new English League One season, the Celtic hero has been given his jotters by Cod Army chiefs after taking one point from a possible 18. He guided the club to mid-table and a record-breaking FA Cup in his maiden term last season, following a player-coach role at Aberdeen, but has been given the bullet alongside coach Steven Whittaker.

Fleetwood have responded with a 2-0 EFL Trophy win over Tranmere Rovers and caretaker Matt Lawlor has revealed messages from Brown after his sacking - and that some players have been struggling with the news of the former Celtic captain's exit. He said: "It's obviously sad, as some of your friends like Scott Brown and Steven Whittaker, two unbelievable human beings who did a good job here.

"I have exchanged messages with them, so it's a strange feeling. But then once you wrap your head around it, it's exciting for me, being at the club so long and being a local boy.

"I understand how we want to play and how we want to do certain things. It's been a whirlwind, loads of support and really touching mssages, strange feeling, weird but exciting at the same time.

"There's a lot of experienced boys who have been through the cycle before. There is some people to pick up, there is some that needed less picking up.

"You just have to be respectful of everyone's thoughts at that time as some of them are really fond of the last management staff, as was I. It's just being respectful of each other and understanding there is still a job to do."