Brown u-turn over Dumbarton job

John Brown turned down the job for "personal reasons"

Former Rangers and Dundee defender John Brown has stunned Third Division club Dumbarton by performing a u-turn and rejecting the vacant managerial post.

Brown, whose 11 years as a coach with Rangers ended in June 2006, had agreed on Wednesday to succeed Gerry McCabe, who was sacked last week.

But in a statement, Dumbarton said he had changed his mind "due to the most personal and private reasons".

Sons chairman Ian Macfarlane said the club accepted Brown's decision.

It had appeared that Brown had agreed to become Dumbarton manager, with Jim Clark, who had been caretaker, remaining as assistant manager, with Chris Hillcoat continuing as Under-19 coach.

But the 45-year-old's decision to turn down the job has stunned the club.

Macfarlane said: "Having discussed this with John and his business advisor, while disappointed, my board and I have to accept that the reasons are genuine."

Brown, affectionately known as Bomber, played for Hamilton Academical and Dundee before winning eight league titles with Rangers.

He took charge of the Glasgow club's Under-18s in 1995, became reserve team boss in 2003 but left after the arrival of Paul Le Guen as first-team manager.