Blackburn Rovers appoint Tony Mowbray as new head coach

Blackburn Rovers have appointed Tony Mowbray as the club’s new head coach.

The 53-year-old has agreed an 18-month contract at Ewood Park and replaces Owen Coyle, who was sacked on Tuesday.

Nigel Adkins, Tim Sherwood and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink had been linked with the job, but Rovers have instead turned to Mowbray.

After a brief spell in caretaker charge at Ipswich, Mowbray's first managerial job was at Hibernian in 2004, before he moved back to England with West Brom in October 2006, leading them to the Championship play-off final in his first season, and then the title in his second.

He moved to Scottish giants Celtic in June 2009, before returning to Middlesbrough, the club where he remains a legend as a player, in 2010.

Mowbray left Middlesbrough in October 2013 but returned to management with Coventry City in March 2015. He left the Sky Bet League One club last September after a run of poor results.

Mowbray inherits a Rovers side who are second-bottom of the Championship and three points adrift of safety with 15 games left.

he has appointed the club's head of academy coaching David Lowe as his assistant, and former Rovers midfielder David Dunn as a first team coach.

His first game in charge will be Friday's trip to Burton Albion.