The midfielder, signed from Hibernian in 2007, has agreed personal terms to extend his contract which runs out at the end of the season but talks have stalled.

At the pre-match press conference at Celtic Park ahead of tomorrow's visit of St Mirren in the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, the Hoops boss first dealt with the emergence this week of the proposal for former manager Gordon Strachan to come to Parkhead in a mentor role, two months after the idea had been abandoned because a deal could not be struck.

Lennon then moved onto the increasingly strange situation surrounding Brown, who is back in training after recovering from an ankle injury, and reiterated the impasse was due to the fee demanded by the player's advisors.

"I was surprised that it (the Gordon Strachan story) came out this week because it was done and dusted eight or nine weeks ago," he said.

"I don't know where it came from and I don't know why it came out at this time.

"And then we had the Scott Brown story that we are forcing him out which is complete nonsense.

"I think he would like it resolved. It is a good contract, a lengthy contract and it shows our commitment to him.

"I think both sides can make it happen so the sooner it is done the better.

"I would be disappointed (if Brown signed a pre-contract with anyone) but at the end of the day players have to look after themselves as well at times.

"The last thing I want or the club wants is for Scott to walk out of the door on freedom of contract.

"At the minute I am confident (that won't happen) but you just never know in football."

Lennon admits that agents and advisors can hold the key to transfer deals in the modern game.

"I think they can make or break deals and spoil things," he said. "This is a negative slant on it, there are a lot of good things that agents do in the game.

"But sometimes they can get in the way and sometimes they can influence a transfer one way or the other.

"We need to have a resolution with his advisors.

"I am very keen (to keep him). If you look at his playing record under us, we win more games than not when Scott Brown is playing.

"He has been a very influential player in the last year and a half and his own bravery and commitment has been detrimental to him with regards this injury.

"He kept playing when he probably shouldn't have done.

"But he is feeling good now and is training.

"It might be a bit early for him tomorrow but we are hoping for the Atletico Madrid game (next week) and the coming league games."

A win over the Buddies will see Celtic close the gap behind Clydesdale Bank Premier League leaders Rangers to four points, before the Light Blues visit Kilmarnock on Sunday.

Lennon is hoping for a less fraught 90 minutes than the 2-1 win over Dunfermline on Wednesday night.

He admitted his regret at becoming involved in a verbal confrontation with a disgruntled fan at the end of a game which had finished nervously after the visitors scored with four minutes remaining.

"I am annoyed with myself," said the Irishman.

"It is something I shouldn't have done.

"I was irked by some of the comments towards the players, having played so well.

"People suffer from amnesia sometimes, they forget the first 80 or so minutes of the game and only want to concentrate on the last few minutes.

"There was an anxiety that spread throughout the ground which I felt was unnecessary.

"You have to be deaf not to be aware of it, because it goes all round the stadium.

"Sometimes I can understand that but on Wednesday night I found it uncalled for.

"We played some brilliant football on Wednesday night, it is the best we have played at home for a while and we just hope we can continue it."