Bhoycie Scott Brown has found himself at the centre of an unexpected debate this week after revealing he would have left Celtic for Newcastle United had Tony Mowbray and, in particular, Peter Grant remained at the club.
It wasn’t because of money or that he wanted away from Celtic.
Simply, it was because, in his own words, he “had no time for Peter Grant”, citing his man-management and even saying his “personality? Zero.”
Reading the reaction on social media, you’d think Brown had committed some sort of mad, unforgivable crime.
Personally, I don’t see it.
He was sitting on Open Goal talking about his career.
The whole point of these interviews is to hear the stories we’ve never heard before. We all know about the trophies, the medals and the captaincy.
What supporters want is the insight behind the scenes, the juicy bits.
People don’t get on in football. Managers fall out with players. Coaches clash with personalities. That’s happened in every dressing room since the game began.
He wasn’t trying to embarrass Peter Grant, I don’t think. He was simply explaining why he seriously considered Newcastle’s five-year contract before Lennon took the reins and completely changed the atmosphere around the club.
Peter Grant’s response has been described in some quarters as “classy”. Again, I’m not entirely having that.
To be fair to him, he was calm and said everybody is entitled to their opinion. There was no rant or personal attack.
But then came the comment that if it had been Roy Aitken, Danny McGrain, Paul McStay or Tommy Burns criticising him, it might have concerned him more.
Scott Brown captained Celtic through one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Twenty-two major trophies. Captain of the nine-in-a-row side. Multiple trebles. If we’re talking about modern Celtic legends, Brown’s name is one of the first on the team sheet surely.
That little remark felt more like a dig than anything Brown actually said.
Brown is being painted as disrespectful for honestly admitting he didn’t get on with a coach nearly two decades ago.
Grant is being applauded for a response that arguably contained the only subtle jab in the entire exchange.
I don’t think either man has behaved particularly badly.
Brown answered a question honestly.
Grant defended himself without losing his temper.
End of story.
Instead, supporters have turned it into a feud where one side has to be right and the other has to be wrong.
For me, there isn’t a winner or a loser here.
There’s simply a former captain giving an honest account of his career, and a former coach responding to it.
If anything, the reaction has been far more dramatic than the comments themselves.
Aodhán Ó Conchobhair 
Phillip Cooney 
Eric Knott 
It doesn’t do the current situation any good whatsoever ..the incompetent board ripping the piss out of the lifeblood of the club -the fans – and now 2 ex high profile players seemingly at each others throats grumbling and bitching at each other all happening simultaneously ! Those loyal to their clumpany nodding dog scoops from the SMSM have been given Manna from heaven at it all . A bunch of freebies where the Celtic FC board and now ex players are tearing everything and themselves apart ! It all conveniently takes the attention away from fraud coacher guy McInnes who has been found out once again about his lack of coaching credentials …after one domestic game with theRangers ! Those are nice big fluffy soft cushions he uses .
He singled out Peter Grant. Unnecessary in the context of a potential move to Newcastle or Tottenham should the then coaching staff had stayed at Celtic. Something deeper has happened between them, Brown hasn’t forgotten it, and although didn’t disclose details – took a pop at Grant in any case. Completely unnecessary. Grant perhaps had a little pop back when dropping the names of ex-teammates, but fair play, just emphasising how little Brown’s comments will affect him. Shouldn’t even be news, but this is the digital landscape and Brown should’ve known better, unless he’s been itching to bad mouth Grant all these years.