John Hartson has snapped back at Charlie Nicholas after the latter claimed Scott Brown is NOT a Celtic legend.

The former Parkhead striker reckons Brown - who will move to Aberdeen as a player/assistant manager in the summer - will be easy for the club to replace despite his massive success as a Hoops captain over 14 years in Glasgow.

"Scott Brown will be easy to replace on the field for Celtic," Nicholas claimed in his Daily Express column. "All this 'legend' talk is nonsense.

"A legend should have been the best ever player in a position or be remembered for doing something great like the Lisbon Lions.

"What Celtic will have more difficulty replacing is Brown's personality and leadership qualities in the dressing room."

Nicholas' comments did not sit well with Hartson and the Welshman made his feelings known, insisting the pundit is just trying to wind people up and stir up some controversy.

“I think Charlie’s at it," Hartson said on Go Radio. "What have you got to do to become a legend?

“He’s made over 600 appearances for Celtic. He’s won ten league titles, 22 trophies and he captained the quadruple Treble in the last four years.

“I just don’t know where Charlie is coming from there, I really don’t. I think he’s just trying to noise people up.”