Source: Team_Talk
Caldwell wants amnesty on SPL bans
Old Firm fans are particularly notorious for searching for perceived injustices and Celtic supporters were up in arms this week when it emerged Scott Brown will miss the game against Rangers at Ibrox on May 9 after it was scheduled to take place during his two-match ban.[LNB]The Celtic midfielder's suspension is in itself controversial.[LNB]Brown picked up his sixth caution of the season in the SPL against Falkirk last week and due to the Scottish Football Association's cumulative punishment system - which takes the previous season into account - he will sit out two games.[LNB]The Scotland international would have been free to play against Rangers if the SPL had scheduled the Old Firm derby later in the month.[LNB]Brown described missing the trip to Ibrox as a "nightmare" and Caldwell believes there is an easy way to end rumours and speculation.[LNB]"It's a strange situation to have, I don't know how those bookings can carry on," said the defender, speaking at Hampden to launch the Cheque Centre/PFA Scotland Player of the Year awards, for which he is nominated alongside Brown and Rangers duo Pedro Mendes and Steven Davis.[LNB]"But how somebody can decide when the games are played (after the split) and who is going to miss what game, is baffling.[LNB]"The simple thing would be for bookings not to kick in after the split.[LNB]"If you go through the bookings barrier and you are going to miss a game then you can't miss any after the split.[LNB]"That would be a simple way to stop the conspiracy theorists.[LNB]"But I don't get to make the decisions; we just have to play the game and we will get on with it."[LNB]Caldwell praised boss Gordon Strachan for keeping faith in him when many were prepared to write him off in the months following his arrival from Hibernian in the summer of 2006.[LNB]"You have to listen to the people that matter," the Scotland defender said.[LNB]"In this country, there is a lot of voices but you have to block them out.[LNB]"If you listen to them then your head will get scrambled.[LNB]"I listened to the manager and he stood by me, and hopefully I repaid the faith he showed in me.[LNB]"I went to Celtic to become a better player and be challenged, and I was challenged.[LNB]"I made mistakes but I became stronger and have become a better player and I have proved that I am good enough to play for Celtic.[LNB]"A lot of people wrote me off and said I wouldn't do it but I proved then wrong."[LNB]Aberdeen boss Jimmy Calderwood has backed Celtic's Brown to pick up this season's Player of the Year awards.[LNB]"In my opinion, Scott Brown has been the best player in Scotland this season," said Calderwood, who takes his side to Parkhead on Saturday.[LNB]"I have been in his company a couple of times and he is a great lad and a real character. He is a wonderful player with great energy levels. He is still only young and I think he has a massive future in the game."[LNB]The Dons boss is looking forward to facing Brown's side.[LNB]He said: "Celtic Park is a wonderful stadium and we know it will be a real challenge to go there and get a result."[LNB][LNB] Celtic v Aberdeen. Click here to bet.
