Tony Mowbray's troubled nine-month reign as Celtic boss is at an
end after the club announced his departure on Thursday afternoon.
The 46-year-old's exit followed Wednesday night's 4-0
Clydesdale Bank Premier League thrashing at St Mirren, which left
the Hoops 10 points behind arch-rivals Rangers having played two
games more.
It is believed Mowbray met chief executive Peter Lawwell at
Celtic's Lennoxtown training ground on Thursday when the decision
was taken to end his short tenure.
Assistant manager Mark Venus and Peter Grant have also lost
their jobs, with Neil Lennon appointed interim manager.
Chairman John Reid said: "On behalf of the board and everyone
at Celtic Football Club, I would like to offer Tony Mowbray my
thanks and sincere best wishes for the future.
"Tony is held in great affection by Celtic fans and it is
obviously with great disappointment that we make today's statement.
"During his period here, Tony has always acted with great
dignity as he has done today.
"We are all Celtic supporters, faithful through and through,
Tony included.
"We are all disappointed at the way things have gone this
season.
"However, as supporters, we will collectively build again to
re-establish the club to its pre-eminent position within Scottish
football."
Chief executive Peter Lawwell added: "This is a very sad day
for everyone at Celtic.
"Tony is a very fine man and someone who I know is passionate
about the club he served so well as a player.
"Clearly, we have had a difficult season and results have not
been as we would have hoped.
"Tony is equally disappointed at some of our results this
season but, working so closely with him, I know that throughout his
period as manager he has always given the club his total and
absolute commitment.
"Tony will always maintain a strong affection for Celtic and
I am sure he will always be highly thought of within the Celtic
family. He is a man who demonstrates decency and integrity in
everything he does.
"I have enjoyed an excellent relationship with him and I
certainly wish Tony, Mark Venus and Peter Grant all the very best
for the future."
Last night's defeat was the 13th of Mowbray's reign after he
succeeded Gordon Strachan in the summer.
Mowbray joined from West Brom, who reportedly secured around
£2million in compensation for his services.
However, the former Hibernian manager was not Celtic's first
choice, with Owen Coyle turning the job down and Roberto Martinez
also reportedly approached.
Mowbray was charged with bringing an attractive brand of
football to Parkhead, which fans felt was lacking towards the end
of Strachan's reign.
The new manager suffered an early setback when Celtic lost
the first leg of their Champions League third qualifying round
match to Dinamo Moscow.
They bounced back in the second leg to set up a play-off
round tie with Arsenal but were thrashed 5-1 on aggregate.
Things initially went well in the Clydesdale Bank Premier
League but Celtic's Europa League campaign never recovered from an
early setback and they crashed out of the competition before the
end of the group stage.
Their SPL campaign began to unravel after they lost the first
Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox.
They tossed away leads in a series of games as defensive
frailty began to undermine their title bid, while they also crashed
out of the Co-operative Insurance Cup at home to Hearts.
By January, they were seven points adrift in the SPL and
Mowbray set about dismantling the squad, bringing in eight new
players during the transfer window.
The shock arrival of Robbie Keane on loan from Tottenham was
greeted by thousands of jubilant fans on transfer deadline day.
But the Republic of Ireland international's debut summed up
Mowbray's reign, Celtic losing at Kilmarnock for the first time in
nine years.
Keane's goals almost single-handedly won Celtic games in both
the SPL and Active Nation Scottish Cup but he could not prevent
them slipping 10 points behind Rangers following last month's third
Old Firm derby of the season.
Despite results, Mowbray repeatedly refused to deviate from
his passing principles but last night witnessed the first admission
that his football philosophy was perhaps not suited to the Scottish
game.
But he also could not resist a dig at Rangers in the process,
telling BBC Scotland: "Rangers have been very consistent - they
haven't lost four goals in any game.
"They set up differently - maybe that's the way to go.
"Maybe it isn't a league for trying to force the game and be
expansive - maybe it is a league for playing defensive, negative
football and having quality up front to counter-attack."
