There was a brief pause as Celtic captain Scott Brown pondered the question; how would Brown the manager deal with Brown the player?

Then there was the lightbulb moment: “I’d give him a new six year deal! That would be the first thing I’d do! As for the media, you wouldn’t get in the f***ing building!”

Behind the humour is a more serious note.

Brown began his coaching badges a few seasons back before putting them hold to concentrate on his game but he will soon resume his UEFA A license studies as he prepares for the next chapter of his career.

Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has already spoken of a coaching role being made available to Brown given the influence that he wields within the club. The midfielder has worked with the kids at Celtic already and the likelihood is that he will morph from player to coach over the coming seasons.

“Myself, the gaffer and Peter [Lawwell] have been chatting and it seems to have gone well,” said Brown. “I am just concentrating on playing right now. I’ll go and do my badges in the summer but I’ll see how long my legs last before I think about moving upstairs.

“It’s a great honour to be playing at the club for so long and for them to be helping me out with a coaching role, whether it’s under 16s or whatever.”

While Brown is reluctant to consider giving up any game time, the 33-year-old will cherry pick from the managers that he has worked with over the years as he looks to carve his own niche in coaching circles.

And at the minute Rodgers is his biggest influence, not that he is courting his job just yet.

“It’s an exceptional place to get a start,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot under the manager here and the previous managers.

“I’m still playing so I’ve not thought about managing the club one day! You never know. The manager here now has set a great standard and I still have a lot to learn.

“I’m learning every day, from his sessions, the way he deals with situations, the media, public, everything. It’s all first class.

“That’s why he has the reputation of being a top manager.”

If Rodgers embodies the modern day coach with an unruffled calmness in the dug-out, there are others who wear their heart more distinctly on their chest. One will visit Celtic Park this weekend and Brown has accepted that there are elements from Neil Lennon and Gordon Strachan that he will also draw on.

Brown’s on-field persona is wrapped up in an old-school style machismo; the steely glare, the robust physicality and the pull towards confrontation. And yet the midfielder expects to cultivate a different style in the dug-out.

“There’s a new way of working,” he said. “It’s not laid back but it’s about sitting down and thinking about how you are working.

“You are still looking to outsmart other managers tactically. It’s about game awareness more than shouting and throwing pots of tea at people.

“Am I more Lenny than Brendan? I don’t know. Lenny didn’t throw pots of tea either.

“He worked with Martin O’Neill and Gordon, two top bosses. I don’t know about Martin but Gordon had a bit of both. He was great on the field but he could snap as well.

“Whether it’s now or 10 years ago, to be a good manager you need a bit of both. You take a bit from every manager you work with when you go down that road.”

And for all that Celtic will offer an immediate path into coaching, Brown wants to learn the basics and work his way from the bottom up.

“You need to become a coach before you become a manager,” he said. “You can’t just jump in with both feet.

“I look at John Kennedy, he’s done it the right way. He started as a scout, was on the computer and doing bits and bobs then out watching games, doing his license and he got his chance under Ronny Deila.

“He’s really kicked on and has been great for the manager and for us. You can talk to Kendo about how to put on a session and he’s really helped me going through my B License.

“He’ll be a great help when it comes to my A as well.

“I’m watching games differently and I’ve started taking notes – although there’s lots of spelling mistakes!”

Meanwhile, Brown has also reserved particular praise for James Forrest. The winger netted four goals in his last domestic display and has been one of the most consistent Celtic players under the influence of Rodgers.

“Jamesie was my player of the year last year – by far,” explained Brown. “He was exceptional for us and for Scotland. What more can you ask for?

“He’s added goals to his game this last few years, he produced decoy runs and is defending as well as attacking.

“It just shows the spirit of the wee man that whatever manager comes in he is always one of the first names on the teamsheet.

“He creates chances and is very unselfish. That’s what you want in a teammate.

“The only thing he doesn’t have is a song – we need to get one for him. Maybe ‘Wee Jamesie’!”