Celtic first-team coach Peter Grant has told Ally McCoist "let battle commence" after getting a ribbing from his Old Firm rival on the phone.

Rangers assistant boss McCoist was congratulating Grant on his return to Celtic with new manager Tony Mowbray.

"McCoist has already been on the phone giving me a bit of stick," said the former Celtic midfielder. "You never leave the Old Firm environment.

"But I'm not here as a supporter or a cheerleader. I'm here to help players."

Grant this week followed Mowbray and assistant Mark Venus from West Brom to be part of the new management team at Celtic Park.

McCoist, who is being groomed as manager Walter Smith's successor, was firing the Ibrox side towards nine titles in a row as Grant played for Rangers' rivals in the 1980s and 1990s - and the former Scotland striker has already been in touch.

"I think he wants us to roll about now and get the fight out of the road before we go on the touchline," said Grant.

Let's get one thing straight, I'm here with a track suit on. My scarf goes back in the drawer Celtic first-team coach Peter Grant

"Walter is a fantastic man and you see Rangers have McCoist, Ian Durrant and Kenny McDowall, who left from here obviously, people who want to do well for the club.

"We have the exact same here, people who are desperate to do well for Celtic, so let battle commence and we are really looking forward to it."

Mowbray is also a former Celtic player and he and Grant were welcomed like favourite sons this week.

But Grant was keen to stress his professional qualifications over his life-long love of the Glasgow club.

"Let's get one thing straight, I'm here with a track suit on," he said. "My scarf goes back in the drawer.

"I've earned my stripes over the last 13 years and Tony has saw fit to bring me here as part of the back-up team.

"I'm here to bring something to the table. Tony knows what I'm like. I'm not a 'yes' man."

Grant, who had spells as assistant manager at Bournemouth and West Ham and as Norwich boss before joining Mowbray at The Hawthorns, had a reputation as a fiesty character as a player and someone who was committed to bringing Celtic the success their fans demand.

"I'm opinionated as I've always been, some people like it, some don't," he said.

"But the one goal we've all got is to make Celtic as good as we can and winners - and there is no doubt that we have to be winners."

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