Mowbray makes Bhoys exit

Celtic boss departs after humiliating thrashing

Last updated: 25th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mowbray makes Bhoys exit

Mowbray: Leaves Celtic

Mowbray's Celtic record

Played: 44
Won: 22
Drawn: 9
Lost: 13

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Celtic have sacked manager Tony Mowbray following a woeful campaign in Scotland's top flight, with Neil Lennon agreeing to take over.

Mowbray's assistant manager Mark Venus and Peter Grant have also lost their jobs on Thursday.

The Bhoys were expected to challenge Rangers for the SPL title this season, but are currently well adrift of their arch rivals.

Celtic missed the chance to close the gap on Wednesday following a humiliating 4-0 thrashing at the hands of St Mirren.

Mowbray was named Gordon Strachan's replacement last summer, but the ex-West Brom tactician has found the Parkhead faithful a tough crowd to win over.

Strachan won the SPL title three times in four years while Celtic's defeat to the Buddies was their 13th of the season under Mowbray.

Disappointment

Chairman John Reid has expressed his disappointment at the way Celtic's season has unfolded, stating Mowbray has always acted with great dignity.

"On behalf of the board and everyone at Celtic, I would like to offer Tony Mowbray my thanks and sincere best wishes for the future," said Reid.

"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."

Very proud

Reacting to his departure, Mowbray said: "Naturally, I am very disappointed to be leaving Celtic.

"I am very proud to have not only managed but also played for a club with such great tradition and that has tremendous roots in football history.

"I would like to offer my sincere thanks to all of the players and also to my staff who supported me so well. Finally, I would like to wish the club every success in the future."

Reserve-team coach Lennon has been asked to take over for the remainder of the season and he has accepted the post.

Comments (109)

Mark Guest says...

"Mowbray out of his depth at this level" What level is that? Playing St Johnstone, Killy, Dundee? Get over yourselves Celtic. You would be nothing in any other league other than your two-team championship.

Posted 21:31 28th March 2010

Stephen Votadini says...

Roy Keane will be the new manager of Glasgow Celtic by Good Friday without a doubt given the right terms and conditions. Looking forward to next season already!

Posted 16:01 28th March 2010

Alan Escobar (Arsenal fan) says...

To say TM shouldn't have got the job in the first place is a little unfair. TM has a lot of experience and success in the Championship which is a league comparable to the Scottish Prem in terms of ability. Reading statements like 'he never deserved the job because Celtic are up there with the biggest teams in the world' only highlights the dillusion that dominating a sub-standard division can breed (please dont bring up past European Cup wins as a supporting argument to your clubs status - Forest have 2 and are not a big club. Self professing a clubs status will only make you sound like Tottenham and Newcastle Utd fans).

Posted 13:32 28th March 2010

Marty Green (Middlesbrough fan) says...

Are all scottish football fans totally deluded..the reason Mowbray did so badly is the simple fact that if you pay peanuts you get monkeys...neither Celtic and the other suppsoed big club Rangers have any cash so they buy below average players not fit for the english league 1..so please get a reality check..scottish football is at best league 1 standard thats why no decent footballer ever wants to go there..

Posted 13:16 28th March 2010

Trevor Pounder (Celtic fan) says...

Mowbray had to go, I agree. But please stop all this Roy Keane garbage, he is a failed manager (multiple times) and is not a people manager, he manages by fear. A thug is not the kind of person Celtic needs right now. Many foreign managers getting mentioned but I'd be happy with Owen Coyle or Davie Moyes, preferable Moyes. Celtic people who know the nuts and bolts of the Scottish Football scene. I doubt we'll get either though, why would they leave the Premiership to come to a lousy league where stars are targetted in their personal lives. I pray I'm wrong, for the good of the Bhoys...Hail Hail.

Posted 02:32 28th March 2010

Andrew Good says...

When I heard Celtic had sacked Tony Mowbray I was extremley dissapointed. I felt he was a great manager from them. (From the point of view of a Rangers Fan) He spent almost £12m on players he brought Robbie Keane to the SPL, but still Celtic couldn't win a thing. They are sitting 10 points behind Rangers ( soon to be 16 points ), and Rangers havent spent a penny for nearly 2 years. Yet Tony Mowbray has the cheek to critazise the way Rangers play football ? Rangers have the best attack and defence in the SPL and have walked away with the League, Celtic are now even more of a laughting stock than they already where. Thanks For The Memories Tony !!!

Posted 21:44 27th March 2010

Mohammed Mo says...

T M is not a good manager, neither is Roy Keane, Mick Mccarthy or Mark Mghee, neither of these people have achieved anyhting at this level and aren't right for the job. Mark Hughes is definately the better man because he has worked with huge stars is good at handling situations with his players and a manager with flair with the wise teaching of Fergusson from his Man Utd days. These others are just not good enough for this level of football and really Celtic should be completing at the world level of football and not just spl.

Posted 16:29 27th March 2010

Douglas Sutherland (Celtic fan) says...

The more I see Roy Keanes name mentioned the more I feel depressed. This is not the man for the job. We need someone with experience NOT Keane. He barely impressed as manager at any of the clubs he's been at. Someone more like roy hodgson or mark hughes would be better. Celtic need to be patient and see who becomes available at the end of the season.

Posted 12:55 27th March 2010

Richard Austin (Ipswich Town fan) says...

I think Roy Keane would make and excellent manager at Celtic ... as an Ipswich fan i would be very gratefull if you take him ... please !!

Posted 12:16 27th March 2010

Jordan Kenny (Celtic fan) says...

I feel Tony Mowbray should have been given more time. It's not him who needed to go, it's players, at the end of the day, the manager can only put the players on the pitch, the easiest thing to do is blame the manager, and thats whats been done, and yet the executives who hide behind the managers are still there:o the fans hated Gordon Strachan for playing defensive football and Tony Mowbray tries playing attacking football and fans don't want that, get it sorted.however, Mowbrays gone and I would like to see Mick McCarhy appointed manager. True, Wolves aren't doing great but he adds passion and desire to teams and gets them playing good football, something Celtic don't have. Players must go!! such as; McGeady, Thomson, O'Dea, Braafheid, N'Guemo, Fortune, Samaras! now a days, you want good players, you must be willing to pay big!!!!

Posted 11:40 27th March 2010

David Glynn (Celtic fan) says...

it had to happen.....he might be the nice st fellow in the world but T M had never the calibre of a celtic manager...his team selections were flawed,transfer dealing a disaster and media work so wodden and defencive...he jus had no spark to motavate and excite a major club with such pasionate fans...my choice wud be mick mcarthey...

Posted 19:50 25th March 2010

Ashley Hammond (West Bromwich Albion fan) says...

Mowbray being sacked without delay is the best thing that could have happened to a club of Celtic's magnitude. Pay him off and ensure that he gets on the train. I am a lifelong WBA fan and often watched in despair as Mowbray seemed clueless in the games that really mattered (Albion fans will no doubt remember with dismay our dismal display under Mr Mowbray's "guidance" when we lost to Derby in the playoff final a few seasons ago. 90 minutes of tactical torture and a runners up medal. All this nonsense about his footballing principles, where's the evidence of it? Without question, this Celtic side has more footballing ability than any Albion side he managed but he really didnt get Celtic playing at all. They are out of everything. Mr Mowbray is a Championship manager with a funny voice or perhaps now a pundit with a funny voice. Celtic have acted decisively by sacking him. Watch out West Ham fans, watch out all fans. Just be sure he gets on that train!!

Posted 19:49 25th March 2010

Jim Mcgarvey (Celtic fan) says...

Who will want this poison chalice now .We have been in a downhill spiral since O'Neil's departure despite winning trophies under Strachan. Celtic are undoubtedly one of the biggest clubs in the world, however the people running the club don't truly realise the potential. Mowbray has been allowed to bring in a succession of sub standard players barely good enough for championship football. We are trapped in the Scottish league and there would seem no way out.

Posted 19:47 25th March 2010

Phil Richards says...

To all Celtic fans, just be patient until the end of the season. If the pundits are right, you should be able to choose from Ancelotti, Benitez, Hughes, Mancini, Curbishley, Keane, Grant, Pellegrini etc. and maybe Capello by the end of the summer. In a two horse race, there is no place for a donkey !!

Posted 19:23 25th March 2010

Kris Quinn (Celtic fan) says...

Should of never got the job in the first place, As for the rangers fans saying mowbray should of stayed because he was rubbish ? remember paul le guen ? cant see neil lennon do anything special , Mark Hughes for next celtic manager

Posted 19:22 25th March 2010

Tam Halliday (Rangers fan) says...

The fact that Celtic are so far behind Rangers is not fully down to Mowbray, its the fact that Walter Smith has been there before and knows how to manage in the SPL. You can't expect a new manager to be wining titles or even cups in their first season. Celtic have just paniced, tipical, Glory hunting fans. Mowbray would have got it right but not in his first season in Scotland.

Posted 19:15 25th March 2010

Paddy O'toole (Celtic fan) says...

Its the same old same old ..even Fergie got a few years ..9 months its a joke...expectations are unrealistic...better some pain to get a better gain....ha not here

Posted 19:14 25th March 2010

Neil Debap says...

Tough luck on Mowbray , but he should not have got the job in the first place. Celtic fans think the manager has to have celtic connections, but that is nonsense. It has to be the right man for the job with great experience. The man for the job is Juande Ramos.....he was superb with Seville with very little money...Forget his time at Spurs.......he is the man to take us back to where we belong, dominant as home and feared on the continant.

Posted 19:07 25th March 2010

Paul Mcdougall (Celtic fan) says...

As a celtic fan i think the celtic board were right to get rid of mowbray. The fans have to remember that the majority wanted him or mark mcghee at the helm and look at how he is doing at aberdeen. Major mistakes were selling barry robson and loaning mcmanus to middlesburgh including stripping him of captaincy replacing him with brown. Good football doesn't win games in the spl and gordon strachan must be laughing just now. Who would possibly want the job now??

Posted 19:05 25th March 2010

Craig Smith (Rangers fan) says...

To all those Celtic fans that have had a good laugh at Rangers` finances`: 2 million on mowbray and his compensation also whatever he as spent on poor players, no good CL money for 2 seasons and your best players are on loan who are going to have to be replaced not to mention money for a new manager think the tides are going to be turned very soon watch this space

Posted 18:59 25th March 2010

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