The sad tale of Tony Mowbray! Always liked him and found myself supporting Sunderland last year because of him and Paddy Roberts – and me a Newcastle supporter!…

New Celtic signing China captain Zheng Zhi (L) attends a press conference with manager Tony Mowbray at Celtic Park d, on September 25, 2009. AFP PHOTO/Brian Stewart (Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

It is sadly true that Tony Mowbray, however likeable and personable, is a very unlucky man. Indeed although one does not like to use the word “loser” with all its connotations, it is difficult to say anything else. As a player he came at the wrong time, and his only contribution was the introduction of the huddle; as a manager, it is hard to find much in his favour.

He had been a good manager of Hibs, and that is possibly where he should have remained but he moved to West Bromwich Albion whom he managed to relegate in 2009! Incredibly, Celtic then went for him to replace Gordon Strachan. Frankly, the job was beyond him, and as his season wore on, body language and a hunted look made it plain that he was struggling to cope with the abuse he was getting from the fans.

The season started off badly with dismal performances in Europe, a defeat to Hearts in the League Cup and the fans getting restive. Then a dreadful game at Tannadice in which Celtic lost two goals to corner kicks in the last five minutes seemed to cause all sorts of panic, and the midwinter transfer window seemed to be used as an attempt to rebuild a team, rather than supplement.

Celtic manager Tony Mowbray (L) poses with new Celtic signing China captain Zheng Zhil at Celtic Park in Glasgow, Scotland, on September 25, 2009. Photo BRIAN STEWART/AFP via Getty Images)

All sorts of foreign nonentities appeared, and although there were one or two moments of hope like the arrival of Robbie Keane and a good 3-1 win at Kilmarnock in the Scottish Cup, it was increasingly plain that so many players were simply not Celtic class.

The end came at St Mirren as Celtic lost 0-4 in a performance which frankly gave the impression that some Celtic players were not even trying, and the crowd became dangerously angry with a hostile pitch invasion at one point looking possible. No Celtic Manager can hope to survive anything like that, and to everyone’s relief including his own, Tony had to go.

Tony Mowbray during the Scottish Premier league match between St Mirren and Celtic at St Mirren Park on 26 September, 2009. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

But the players must take some of the blame. On the night of the St Mirren disaster, Rangers had exited the Scottish Cup to Dundee United, leaving Celtic with a reasonable of chance of winning the Cup to salvage some self-respect. With Mowbray now gone, and Neil Lennon in temporary charge, they managed to blow up against Ross County in the semi-final!

Celtic’s manager, Tony Mowbray watches his team play against Hamburg during their UEFA Europa League, Group C, football match at Celtic Park, , on October 22, 2009. Photo GRAHAM STUART/AFP via Getty Images)

Such was Mowbray’s legacy, and how it hurts to say this about a man who was whole-hearted, sincere, honest – but neither talented nor lucky.

David Potter

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