Rangers boss Graeme Murty thanked Celtic captain Scott Brown for his work with the Scottish national team after he announced his retirement from international football – and it’s created a big split among Gers faithful.
Brown has decided to hang his boot with Scotland and concentrate on club football earning 55 caps for his country but failing to help them reach a major finals.
The 32-year-old has retired from international football previously before changing his mind and returning to the fold although it is unlikely the Celtic star could possibly change his mind again.
Rangers boss comments, as quoted by Press Association’s Andy Newport on Twitter have raised strong reactions from Gers fans. Murty’s is a former Scotland international after he won four caps while playing as a full-back for Reading but never shared a pitch with Brown as a player for Scotland.
Brown’s first appearance for Scotland was against the United States in 2005 and previously announced is international retirement in August 2016.
Rangers boss Graeme Murty “thanks” Scott Brown for his Scotland contribution and challenges Rangers midfielders to prove they can replace the retiring skipper in Alex McLeish’s national team
— Andy Newport (@AndyNewportPA) February 26, 2018
He has been a key player for Celtic this season as the Bhoys aim to lift a seventh successive Scottish title and complete a historic back-to-back treble.
The 32-year-old has made 43 appearances for the Scottish champions this season.
Here are some of their comments on Twitter:
What business does Graeme Murty have, thanking Brown for his ‘contribution’? Murty‘s no even Scottish ffs ? That’s an odd one for me
— Callum✨ (@xCDMM) February 26, 2018
Murty handled the question about Brown with the class and dignity I expect from a Rangers manager. Can understand it rubs some people up the wrong way but I have no issue with his answer
— Mark McCreadie (@Creads_84) February 26, 2018
Murty handled the question about Brown with the class and dignity I expect from a Rangers manager. Can understand it rubs some people up the wrong way but I have no issue with his answer
— Mark McCreadie (@Creads_84) February 26, 2018
Struggling to see what Murty said wrong today at the press conference today about Brown retiring it’s like people want the smallest excuse to beat Murty with a stick ?♂️
— Barry (@bkerr72) February 26, 2018
Greame Murty thanked Brown as a Scotland fan, personally I'm no really bothered because its the kind of guy Murty is I'm just worried about how his team is performing and winning games
— Bradley ?? (@RfcBradley) February 26, 2018
Murty has nothing to do with Scotland and Brown nothing to do with Murty so why thank him? Or as I suspect journos trying to mix and gather some kind of Celtic Rangers* story ?????????
— John Mc☘ (@JPM1967) February 26, 2018
https://twitter.com/BoydRoss72/status/968109785945174016