August 2003, though Sheffield United denied ever receiving such an offer. However, after being sent off twice in the first half of the 2003–04 season, manager Neil Warnock confirmed that with Brown out of contract at the end of the season he would be looking to sell Brown to the highest bidder. Tottenham Hotspur Brown was signed by Tottenham Hotspur in January 2004 for a fee in the region of £500,000. He scored his first top-flight goal in a 4–4 draw with Leicester City at White Hart Lane on 22 February. He played a total of 19 games for David Pleat's "Spurs" during the second half of the 2003–04 season. He made 34 appearances in the 2004–05 campaign, and scored goals against Norwich City in the league and against Bolton Wanderers in the League Cup. Brown's position in midfield for Tottenham was in a much deeper role than his position for Sheffield United, and he found himself becoming a more defensive minded midfielder. Although well appreciated by fans for his hard work and honest contribution, the strengthening of the Spurs midfield under Martin Jol threatened Brown's position in the team with signings like Edgar Davids, Hossam Ghaly and Danny Murphy adding competition for places with Michael Carrick and Jermaine Jenas already at the club. Brown was limited to just 11 appearances in the first half of the 2005–06 season, and was moved on to Fulham in January 2006. Fulham He played seven games for the "Cottagers" towards the end of the 2005–06 season, and was handed the captaincy by manager Chris Coleman. Reflecting on his captaincy, Brown said: "I just want to be playing football as much as I can and now with the added reward of being made captain it makes it even better." He made 37 appearances in the 2006–07 season as Fulham finished two places and one point above the relegation zone. However, Lawrie Sanchez was brought in after the departure of Coleman and in the close season, he signed many new players – including midfielders Chris Baird, Lee Cook and Steven Davis – and Brown became surplus to requirements under Sanchez. Wigan Athletic Brown signed for Wigan Athletic on a three-year deal in July 2007. The manager who signed Brown, Chris Hutchings, was sacked not long after taking charge and replaced by manager Steve Bruce. Under Bruce, Brown formed midfield partnerships with Lee Cattermole and Wilson