Peter Grant reacts to Scott Brown’s comments attacking his personality after Celtic match.

Former Celtic Coach Breaks Silence on Scott Brown’s Remarks

Peter Grant responded to Scott Brown’s comments (Image: Ian MacNicol/Shutterstock)

Peter Grant has responded to the recent criticism directed at him by former Celtic captain Scott Brown, choosing a calm and measured approach after Brown questioned both his personality and management style during a podcast interview.

Grant, who spent time as a coach at Celtic alongside Tony Mowbray, insisted he has no issue with Brown expressing his views, stressing that everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Rather than becoming involved in a public war of words, the former Celtic midfielder made it clear that he is comfortable with the criticism and has no intention of allowing the comments to affect him personally.

Brown Revisited His Early Celtic Years

The debate began after Scott Brown reflected on the early years of his Celtic career during an appearance on the Open Goal podcast.

Brown discussed the period when Tony Mowbray managed the club, with Peter Grant serving as one of his key coaching staff.

It was during that era that Brown first became club captain, taking on additional responsibility despite Celtic experiencing a difficult spell on the pitch.

Looking back on that period, Brown admitted he had struggled with certain aspects of the coaching setup and suggested he would have seriously considered leaving Celtic had changes not been made.

Brown Made Strong Comments About Grant

Among Brown’s most eye-catching remarks were his comments regarding Peter Grant personally.

The former midfielder said he had “no time” for Grant and suggested their relationship was poor throughout their time working together.

Brown also criticised Grant’s approach to managing players, claiming his biggest issue centred on personality and man-management.

He even stated that if Tony Mowbray and Peter Grant had remained at Celtic, he believed he would have left the club rather than continue under their leadership.

Those comments quickly attracted attention among Celtic supporters due to both men’s strong connections with the club.

Transfer Interest Added Context

Brown’s discussion came while reflecting on transfer opportunities that arose during his Celtic career.

He explained that clubs including Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United had shown interest in signing him at different stages.

Despite those opportunities, Brown ultimately remained at Celtic and went on to become one of the club’s most successful captains.

However, he suggested the managerial changes following Mowbray’s departure played a significant role in convincing him to stay.

Neil Lennon Changed the Mood

During the same conversation, Brown credited Neil Lennon with transforming the atmosphere around the club.

According to Brown, the team’s momentum shifted almost immediately after Lennon replaced Tony Mowbray.

Improved performances and positive results helped restore confidence throughout the squad.

Brown implied that those changes influenced his decision to continue his career at Celtic rather than seek a move elsewhere.

His comments contrasted sharply with his assessment of the coaching staff who had worked under Mowbray.

Grant Responds With Respect

Appearing on the Go Radio Football Show, Peter Grant was given the opportunity to address Brown’s remarks directly.

Rather than responding emotionally, Grant adopted a composed and respectful tone.

He acknowledged that every individual has the right to express personal opinions, even if those opinions are critical.

Grant stressed that Brown’s comments did not concern him and insisted he had absolutely no problem with what had been said.

His response reflected a desire to avoid escalating the situation into a prolonged public disagreement.

Criticism Is Part of Football

Grant explained that criticism has been a regular part of his football career.

Having spent decades working as both a player and coach, he said he had developed the resilience needed to deal with differing opinions.

He suggested that anyone involved in professional football must accept that not everyone will view them positively.

For Grant, Brown’s criticism represented another opinion rather than something requiring a defensive response.

He made it clear that he would continue focusing on his own life without dwelling on negative comments.

Others See a Different Side

While accepting Brown’s right to his opinion, Grant also pointed out that many people who know him would strongly disagree with the criticism.

He said he has numerous friends and colleagues who would describe his personality very differently.

That, he suggested, is simply part of life.

Different individuals experience different relationships, and not everyone will form the same impression of another person.

Grant appeared entirely comfortable accepting that reality.

No Interest in Holding Grudges

Grant was also asked whether he understood why Brown still held such negative feelings after so many years.

The former Celtic coach admitted he struggled to remember any specific incident that could explain the criticism.

He estimated the events Brown referred to took place somewhere between ten and fifteen years ago.

Grant joked that he clearly did not possess the same memory as Brown regarding that period.

Rather than searching for explanations, he said the issue simply did not trouble him.

Perspective From a Celtic Legend

One of Grant’s most notable comments involved explaining whose opinions would genuinely matter to him.

He stated that criticism from legendary Celtic figures such as Roy Aitken, Danny McGrain, Paul McStay or Tommy Burns would perhaps affect him more deeply.

Those individuals, he suggested, were people whose football opinions he held in especially high regard.

By comparison, Brown’s criticism did not carry the same emotional weight for him.

The comment illustrated both Grant’s perspective and his refusal to become distracted by personal disagreements.

Refusing to Criticise Others

Grant also emphasised that he has never made a habit of publicly attacking people who criticise him.

Throughout his career, he has preferred to accept differing viewpoints rather than retaliate.

He suggested that responding aggressively would achieve little and believed it was better simply to move forward.

His attitude throughout the interview remained consistent, focusing on acceptance rather than confrontation.

Sleeping Easy Despite the Headlines

Closing the discussion, Grant insisted he would have no difficulty putting the controversy behind him.

He confidently stated that he would sleep perfectly well despite Brown’s comments.

That remark summed up his overall approach to the situation.

Rather than allowing criticism to dominate his thoughts, Grant appears content to leave the disagreement in the past while respecting Brown’s right to express his feelings.

Different Memories of the Same Period

The exchange highlights how individuals can remember the same chapter of football history very differently.

Scott Brown reflected on his early Celtic years with clear frustration regarding Peter Grant’s coaching style, believing it nearly pushed him toward leaving the club.

Peter Grant, meanwhile, has responded with calmness, insisting he bears no resentment and accepts that football careers naturally involve criticism.

Although Brown’s comments generated significant attention among supporters, Grant has made it clear he has no intention of prolonging the disagreement, preferring instead to respect differing opinions and focus on the future rather than revisit events from more than a decade ago.