MARK Brown has accused Hibernian of showing reckless disregard for his career by breaking a contract promise.

The former Rangers, Celtic, Motherwell and Inverness goalkeeper was axed almost two months after first being invited to stay at Easter Road.

Brown, back in the Highlands with Ross County, held talks with Pat Fenlon afterthe Scottish Cup final defeat to Hearts.

The 31-year-old says the Hibernian manager told him he was central to his plans and would get a new contract. The club signed another goalkeeper, Ben Williams, but, Brown said: "Even then the message was that they wanted to keep me." Then, in late July, after eight weeks of delays and assurances, chairman Rod Petrie told Brown there was no finance left for a deal.

Brown, a six-figure signing by Gordon Strachan at Celtic in 2007, said: "It was devastating and it put me in a very difficult situation.

"By that point, it was about eight weeks on from my initial meeting with the manager. That was basically eight weeks where I could have been looking for a club . . . I know there were three SPL clubs who filled the goalkeeping position during that time."

Brown is now raring to go at Ross County after signing a deal through to January.

He said: "I spent a couple of weeks training down at Queen of the South where I know the manager, Allan Johnston, very well. That kept me ticking over, then, fortunately, I got the phone call from Ross County."