Our life of Brian is a revelation

Jul 20 2008 By Michael Baillie

CLYDE boss John Brown reckons his young guns will be inspired by playing alongside great Dane Brian Laudrup this week.

Laudrup and fellow Ibrox icon Jorg Albertz will line up for the Bully Wee in a pre-season friendly against Rangers at Broadwood on Tuesday.

The Dane is interrupting a holiday in Spain to take on his former team while Albertz - who had a spell at Clyde last term - will fly in from Germany.

While both may be getting on a bit former Gers team-mate Brown feels his young side will benefit from seeing two greats up close.

Bomber said: "Jorg and Brian won't have to call me gaffer. They're doing me a big favour by playing as Brian is on holiday with his family.

"Jorg is also taking time out to come over but I'm not surprised because at Rangers they were always fantastic.

"It's great they're going to be Clyde players for the night.

"All the lads are looking forward to playing with Jorg and Brian.

With Brian they will see what a fantastic player he was as he will still have the touches.

"The legs may go but the brain doesn't and my lads can learn from playing with him.

"It's a great test and we've been trying to sell the game around Albertz and Laudrup being involved.

"I'm sure Brian will show he still has something in the tank. Maybe Walter Smith will even want to tie him up.

"Jorg did fantastically well for us last season and we're looking forward to the match."

Brown was a stalwart of the Nine-In-A-Row era at Ibrox. And he hopes the fans who cheered him as a player will turn up in numbers to help him make inroads into Clyde's debt.

He said: "A big gate can help us get through the season.

"If we get the stadium three-quarters full it will clear a fair bit of debt and maybe help us get players in."

Brown is still a management novice after taking the Broadwood reins in January but knows he can rely on Ibrox boss Smith for advice.

He said: "Walter was the gaffer I learned most from.

"His man-management skills are tremendous. I've worked under a lot of managers and the way he could handle a one to one was great.

"Every player who works under Walter always seems to give 110 per cent - he can get that out of them.

"When I was at Rangers as a coach he kept saying I needed to take the plunge as a boss.

"Walter always said you don't become a decent coach until you stop wanting to kick every ball.

"It took me a few years to be able to stand back and see the whole picture but it was a good grounding.

"I can ask Walter for advice and there are times I've phoned him. I'm trying to use what I learned as coach at Rangers to make Clyde more professional."