Man who gave Mowbray his big break at Hibs recalls instant impression he made

Published on Tuesday 16 June 2009 23:57

HAVING been astute enough to hand Tony Mowbray his chance in management former Hibs director Stephen Dunn is among those glad to see Tony Mowbray back in Scottish football.

There was little surprise yesterday when it was confirmed Mowbray had been installed Celtic manager. However, when Hibs introduced the former centre-half as Bobby Williamson's successor in 2004 at Easter Road there was an audible gasp. Mowbray's name had hardly been mentioned prior to his appointment.

Rod Petrie, the then Hibs chief executive, selected Dunn to lead the search for a manager and both were bowled over by Mowbray's attention to detail during their first meeting. Indeed, the then Ipswich Town coach even picked up Dunn and Petrie from Stansted Airport in his own car, and drove them back to his house. When their discussions were over, Mowbray drove them back again.

He was determined to make a start in management. Indeed, he might have taken these first steps in Glasgow, where he is now finally berthed. It is believed he applied for the manager's post at Partick Thistle but lost out to the combined team of Gerry Britton and Derek Whyte.

Hibs, though, were impressed; so much so that Dunn wondered whether Mowbray might also lend his management skills to the benefit of Scottish Power, the company with whom he was director of communications and human resources at the time.

Mowbray sent his CV to Easter Road and Dunn and Petrie went down to England to find out more about the man who was then a first-teach coach under Joe Royle at Ipswich Town. This was on a Wednesday. The next day he was invited up to meet the rest of the Easter Road board and on the following Monday he took his bow in front of a room of surprised reporters.

"He made a tremendous impact on us in that first meeting," recalled Dunn. "I recall saying to Rod as we waited for the flight home: 'if this was someone I was interviewing for a very senior management job at Scottish Power he would be on the short-list'.

"The thing that impressed me about Tony when I met him was that he was so full-on football. We met him in Stansted airport and for the next four and a half hours he talked about nothing else but football. He outlined his philosophy, and how he liked to see the game played. He also outlined his technical knowledge, explained how he would set up the club, and organise training.

"He picked us up and drove us to his home and we asked him all the questions we had. On the way back to the airport again he kept talking about his philosophy and the way he wanted to see the game played, and what players he could bring in. It really made an impression on us."

Dunn, who left the Hibs board in 2006, has kept in touch with Mowbray via text messages. He is "not surprised" that the former Hibs manager has wended his way back to Celtic.

"I actually felt he would have done more in English football than he did," said Dunn. "But he will be at a different end of the league with Celtic. The way he plays football is as important as the results. I think he will fit into the club's personality in the way that he fitted into the Hibs personality.

"We definitely wanted to play football with a swagger and he brought that back."

Dunn has no concerns about Mowbray wilting in the glare that comes with the Old Firm. He has, Dunn explains, coped with a far more extreme form of strain in his personal life. Mowbray's first wife Bernadette, from Renfrewshire, died of breast cancer 14 years ago.

"It's been interesting seeing this Celtic manager story unfold since Gordon Strachan's resignation, and to hear comments about whether so-and-so would be able to cope with the pressure of managing one half of the Old Firm," said Dunn. "The way the man has dealt with personal tragedy gives him a different perspective on pressure, which will benefit him.

"He always conducted himself with great dignity, and dealt with people in the right way. But if he has to make the hard decision then he will make it. You saw it at Hibs and you saw it at West Brom, where he stuck to his principles."

Mowbray will be re-united with some familiar faces at Parkhead. Not only will former Easter Road players Scott Brown and Gary Caldwell offer him a warm greeting, so too will old friend John Park. The Celtic football development manager held a similar role at Easter Road under Mowbray, and Dunn believes the reunion of this pair, plus assistant Mark Venus, will stand Celtic in good stead for years to come.

"Mowbray and Veno were a great double act," recalled Dunn. "Tony was the thinker, the strategist. Veno motivated the players on the park and was a good foil for Tony. The third point of the triangle was John Park. I think Celtic have a management team which can take them to another level. John will find the players and Tony will bring them on."

FACTFILE

1963: Born 22 November, Saltburn, North Yorkshire.

1981: Mowbray signs for Middlesbrough as an apprentice.

1982: Makes debut in September in 1-1 draw at Newcastle at the age of 18.

1991: After making 419 appearances, scoring 30 goals and representing England at B level, he joins Celtic for 1 million.

1995: Transfers to Ipswich in October for 300,000 having made 93 appearances and scored six goals for Celtic.

2000: Plays final game against Barnsley in the First Division play-off final at Wembley in May 2000 after scoring eight goals in 149 appearances. Appointed full-time coach after Ipswich's promotion.

2004: May – Appointed manager of Hibs.

2005: April – Hibs beaten 2-1 by Dundee United in Scottish Cup semi-final.

May – Hibs finish third in the SPL to claim Uefa Cup place. September – Hibs beaten 5-1 by Dnipro in Uefa Cup first round.

2006: October – Hibs grant West Brom permission to interview Mowbray and he is appointed manager two days later.

2007: May – West Brom lose Championship play-off final 1-0 to Derby after finishing fourth.

2008: April – West Brom reach FA Cup semi-finals but are beaten 1-0 by Portsmouth. May – West Brom win Championship.

2009: 17 May – West Brom relegated from the Premier League, finishing bottom of the table. 25 May – Mowbray is linked with a return to Celtic after Gordon Strachan resigns as manager.

8 June – West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace confirms an official approach had been made for Mowbray but is determined to hold out for 2 million compensation.

16 June – Mowbray is confirmed as the new manager of Celtic.