Mowbray is the new Manager

13 October 2006

Latest, Friday:

Tony Mowbray has accepted the job of manager at West Bromwich Albion. The official web site says that he will take up his duties on Wednesday and that Nigel Pearson will be in charge for the next two games.

Tuesday:

According to reports on the BBC, at least, Hibernian manager Tony Mowbray is as good as being named as the replacement for Bryan Robson. However, various conflicting rumours have been going around about just how far is is from getting the job: some say he's already been interviewed twice, other say he hasn't even been approached yet.

But most reports seem to agree that he's the current favourite for the job, though exactly what evidence they base that on seems a little unclear.

Update, Thursday:

Hibs have reluctantly given Albion permission to talk to Mowbray after he expressed an interest in hearing what they had to say. Mowbray and Hibs apparently agreed on a compensation package, only to find that Albion came up with better offer. Make the most of that, lads - it doesn't happen very often! The Hibs chairman has told a press conference that he expects Mowbray to leave and amongst the general disappointment at the news, their supporters are already discussing his potential replacement. And as if that wasn't enough, according to an article on the BBC web site, Mowbray is said to have told the players on Thursday morning that this would be the last time they'd be seeing him but that he wished them well and hoped they'd cross paths again in the future (the article is mainly full of praise from captain Kevin Thomson for Mowbray's achievements at Hibs over the last couple of years).

Opinion on him seems generally, if not universally, positive...

"I live up in the north of scotland and let me tell you fellow baggies that tony mowbery aint the man for the job hes under acheived at hibs and we all know that the scottish prem league isnt the most competative - compare that to div 2."

"i would say now a man to approach for the vaccant post would be kevin keegan as i see this very wise man every moring more or less going to my work and do often chat with the great man himself so put that one to the chairman of westbrom im sure he would kevin keegan jump at the chance to take a club like westbrom back where they belong so if they have any ambition lets see"

 - Paul

"IF YOU GET TONY AS NEW BOSS HE WONT LET YOU DOWN. I'M BACKING ALBION TO BE CHAMPIONS THIS SEASON. IFYOU LIKE PASSING ATTACKING FOOTBALL YOU HAVE THE BEST MANAGER - JUST WAIT AND SEE!"

 - HIBERNIAN SEASON TICKET HOLDER

"Tony (Mogga) won't let u down he loves flowing attacking football. Good luck!"

 - Derek

"Although i am totaly gutted to lose our manager, i would like to wish Tony Mowbray all the best of luck in his new job at West Brom. Thanks for everything Tony and good luck!!!!"

 - Hibs Fan

"I don't like the way your chairman does his business with regards to poaching managers. Having said that, Tony Mowbray was an excellent manager for us and will soon have your team playing the fast flowing football that we enjoyed..... P.S. I hope your team gets relegated though."

 - Hibs Fan for 40+ years

"As an ardent west brom supporter iam concerned at the appointment of tony mowbray. Lets face it there are only two teams in scottish football and currently hibs are 6th. As to the sacking of bryan robson if they were unhappy with him why didnt they sack him when we had that awful run in feb-march last season we now are currently unbeaten under nigel pearson, why didnt they give him a chance till at least january? He is well respected by the players. I am not that impressed with mowbrays record - maybe jeremy peace does not want us to go back to the premiership."

 - Martin Page

"I was a Megson fan as I respected his passion but he was obviously not good enough for the Premiership, I was nervous about Robson we all knew his playing capabilities are/were second to none BUT his managerial skills yet to be land marked - he didn't show a lot of passion (but would you give up the heady highs and lows of the Great Escape - we have to thank him for that and we again go down into the realms of history)."

"I admit to knowing NOTHING about Tony Mowbray and during the course of the week will be asking knowledgable people for their respected opinions."

"My MAJOR WORRY is this- Does Mr M know how important his first home game actually is?"

"Let's hope that he has as much luck as Keano at Sunderland for his first few games because as any Albion fan knows Sunday 22nd Oct is the most Tense, atmostpheric game of the season and I have really missed it."

"COME ON YOU BAGGIES!!!!!"

 - Sarah C

"Congratulations on getting one of the best young managers in the game to come to your club. I don't know much about Championship football but Mowbray is an inspirational man who had transformed Hibs into a wonderful entertaining team full of exciting young players. I'm not really surprised at some of the comments from West Brom supporters on your website. People from England can be very arrogant and ignorant about Scottish football. I wish Tony and Mark Venus well and I think they will be successful. Don't count on them being around too long though, if they are successful it won't be too long until a bigger club comes and entices them away."

 - Albert the Hibee

As a supporter of Hibs for more years than i care to remember, the short spell under Moggas leadership was some of the best. Like many clubs up here, except for the big two, we are short of cash, BUT he took a bunch of raw kids and soon had us playing some of the most attractive football I've EVER seen ANYWHERE, which he managed in a very short space of time.

I don't like the way your head honcho went about his business in tapping Mogga, but you have now got yourselves one hell of a good manager. Good Luck Big Man.

 - A Grateful Hibby

Previous Stories:

  08 October 2006:  Tueday 10th: Players Night

  03 October 2006:  Thursday 5th is Ex-Players Night

  24 September 2006:  League Cup Round 3:
Arsenal at Home

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