West Brom insist they "fully expect" manager Tony Mowbray to be charge of the club next season following speculation linking him with a move to Celtic.
Mowbray has been installed by the bookmakers as favourite to succeed Gordon Strachan, who resigned in the aftermath of the Bhoys losing out to Rangers in the SPL title battle.
But Albion have issued a statement reiterating they anticipate Mowbray being at the helm for the 2009-2010 campaign. It read: "Tony Mowbray is under contract for the next two years and we fully expect him to be our manager next season."
Celtic - and their majority shareholder Dermot Desmond - are understood to be weighing up whether to make a formal approach to secure the services of Mowbray, who spent four years with the club as a player in the early 1990s.
The 45-year-old is still respected and admired at Parkhead - not only for his performances as a player but for the way he handled the death of his first wife Bernadette through cancer.
He also created a favourable impression during his spell in charge of Hibernian before quitting to take charge of the Baggies two and a half years ago.
West Brom would seek compensation of around £1million if Mowbray was prised away.
Mowbray still has two years left on his contract and Celtic would have to pay double the reported compensation figures of £500,000 for his services - if Albion chairman Jeremy Peace agrees to allow him to leave.
He led the Baggies to promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship during his first full season in charge at Albion 12 months ago.
But West Brom were then instantly relegated from the top flight for the third time in seven years at the end of this season.
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Bet he will be gone by this time next week.
another baggie boy sayuing hands off
To Stuart.........as you appear to understand economics I assume simple mathematics come easy to you. Do you realise that Rangers winning the league every four years would mean the Scottish League under its many names would have been going for 208 years... you understand, 4 x 52 championships...Can you list the other 156 winners? You embittered clown.
keep your hands of mowbray!
Celtic will get another yes man as manager, who will get no cash, they try too make out they are well off but they aint, just watch the massive clearout as parkhead, wee red walked because ha couldn't hack the pressure that was coming his way after blowing the league............ WATP
Tommygun....your wasting your time m8...they dont understand economics.....as proven by the euphora on winning a league once every four years
CRHIST WERE GONNA GET A FAT LEPRECHAUN DRAGING A SACK O SPUDS SHOUTING BEGORRA WE CHASED THE WEE MAN AND NOW WERE GONNA GET THE FECKIN DREGS WHIT WE DESERVE
5.. of course i'm aware of the economic crisis, but don't you think the reason celtic never spent this january was to have a bigger budget this summer? Makes sense to me, and no-one will really want to make any moves in the january transfer window as was seen by almost every club in europe.
As I've said Neil Lennon is probably the number 1 candidate in the eyes of the Celtic Board. He's cheap....
Bring him on lol.... It'll give Rangers (and probably Hearts) an easy job of it
Why Mowbray? Why not take a chance on a candidate currently sitting at Parkhead, namely Neil Lennon? OK , he is inexperienced in management but certainly not inexperienced in the ways of the SPL,he is Celtic through & through, knows the ways and the wants of the Celtic faithful, has a long connection with the previous 2 successful managers,(so must have learned a thing or two) & the fans love him. He has captained & worked with many of the players, so knows them well. He would not break the bank and if, & I appreciate it is an if, he is successful, we could have him at Paradise for years. Worth a thought??!!!!
agreensuffolkscot
Are you aware of the current economic crisis the world finds itself in? Celtic play in the Scottish Premier League not the English Premiership. If Celtic are to open up their cheque books its not going to be this season, that money they have sitting their is fat to live from until this recession blows over.... Maybe in January they may bring in some quality but if you think its going to happen this summer then I suggest you also remove your head from the clouds
Lawell made a statement a couple of months ago saying that win the league or not the warchest will be opened, now i'm not saying this will happen for definite, but if the board are true to their words then it bodes well for any manager coming to the club.
He's not going to get financial backing, what makes you think the Celtic Board would give Tony Mowbray transfer candy and not Gordon Strachan?
he must be cheap
I like mowbray and the way he tries to get his teams playing attractive football, so with a bit of financial backing he could possibly bring a bit of quality to the team that can get us into the champions league again and bring the championship home to paradise.
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