Celtic approach for Tony Mowbray has Peace predicting a battle
Jun 9 2009 by Robert Tanner, Birmingham Post
West Bromwich Albion have been putting out the sandbags and battening down the hatches as they prepare to fight to retain the services of manager Tony Mowbray after Celtic finally made an official approach yesterday.
Angered by two weeks of speculation that Celtic were targeting their manager to succeed Gordon Strachan and constant leaks from within the Glasgow club that have fuelled press reports that Mowbray was about to be named as Celtic boss, Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace issued a stern statement yesterday warning Celtic to be prepared for a bloody battle to get Mowbray.
Peace said he would not consider giving Celtic permission to talk to Mowbray until they agreed to pay the compensation figure that was written into Mowbray’s contract. That figure is believed to be about £2 million and would test Celtic’s resolve to get their man.
The Bhoys are not exactly flushed with cash, especially as Setanta Sports, who own the television rights to the Scottish Premier League, are on the brink of collapse.
Setanta reportedly failed to make a £3 million payment to the Scottish Premier League for its broadcast rights and a payment is looming to the English Premier League of about £30 million, due early next week.
Similar compensation demands are thought to have deterred Celtic’s attempts to prize Owen Coyle from Burnley but with an early start to their season looming due to Champions League qualifiers next month the Hoops are keen to get Mowbray in place quickly.
Celtic are still confident they can prize Mowbray away from Albion but Peace said the club would do all they could to persuade their manager that his best interests would be better served in the Midlands.
“After two weeks of speculation, I have finally received a call from the Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, requesting permission to speak to Tony,” Peace said.
“I made it absolutely clear that Celtic’s approach was not welcome because we have an on-going project at Albion in which Tony is an integral part.
“Tony’s style of play is a key factor in that project and the supporters have very much bought into it, as everyone saw by the terrific reception the fans gave Tony and the players after our final home game against Liverpool.
“It is also reflected by the fact we have already sold more than 16,000 season tickets for 2009/10.
“We inserted a compensation figure when Tony signed a new contract 16 months ago to ensure that the club would be suitably recompensed in the event of any other club seeking his services.
“Most people would regard it as a fair figure. It was inserted in the contract in good faith and is non-negotiable because we don’t want to lose our manager. Celtic have been made aware of the compensation figure and if they agree to pay this, only then will I speak to Tony to get his thoughts on the situation.
“Until and unless that happens, as far as we are concerned, it is business as usual as we plan for a very important season ahead of us.
“We hope this is the end of the matter as we do not need any further, unwelcome distractions for the job in hand.”
Mowbray would find the prospect of returning to Celtic, whom he served for four years as a player in the early 1990s, appealing, especially after he was informed he would have to generate his own transfer funds by selling members of his existing squad, and that he must cut his squad down to a core of 20.
However, he will be aware that the pressure and media spotlight will be more intense in Glasgow.
Strachan won three consecutive SPL titles but was still heavily criticised by supporters and the media when Rangers pipped Celtic to the title this year, a factor in his decision to quit.
