Mowbray says he's not just a flair-merchant

Published on Thursday 18 June 2009 10:34

NEW Celtic boss Tony Mowbray insists his reputation for putting entertaining football before success "is something of a fallacy".

Mowbray checked in to Parkhead yesterday tasked with bringing some flair to the Celtic squad which came in for some criticism during Gordon Strachan's four-year tenure, despite the three Clydesdale Bank Premier League titles and three domestic cups which were captured during that time.

The former Celtic defender has enjoyed praise for the way he sets out his sides at former clubs Hibs and West Brom, even though the Baggies were relegated from the Barclays Premier League last season.

Consequently, Mowbray is under pressure not only to win at Celtic but to win with style.

However, the big Teessider, who will be joined from West Brom by assistant Mark Venus and coach Peter Grant, with current Hoops coach Neil Lennon making up the new management team, insists he is as hungry for trophies as any other manager.

He said: "Good football has never been enough for me.

"It is something of a fallacy that's grown up (around me).

"I am in this game to win and be successful and to progress as a coach. You only work within your means. I was very proud of what we achieved at West Brom and the way we played football.

"But yes, we need to win at Celtic and to bring silverware for the supporters. I'm confident that we can continue to be successful as Gordon Strachan was and Martin O'Neill before him. We have to continue that trend and try and build on it."

Mowbray assured Hoops' players he will not be making wholesale changes to his squad immediately. He said: "I'm not coming here with a big axe to swing and cut everything out. I don't want to sit here and say we need a new player in this position or that position. That is disrespectful to the squad.

"There is a natural evolution of a football team over time. When I was at West Brom, within two and half years there were only two players left. Hopefully the supporters in time, hopefully a short period of time, will see the stamp of how I like the game to be played coming across. Obviously the team must continue to win and be successful within that."