According to recent reports from the Lancashire Telegraph, Blackburn Rovers are planning to hold contract talks with manager Tony Mowbray. The 54-year-old’s current contract expires at the end of the season and the club have the option to extend it by a year further. However, Blackburn are reportedly keen on tying Mowbray down to a long-term deal (h/t Lancashire Telegraph).
The former Celtic and Middlesbrough manager took over the reins at Ewood Park back in February 2017, replacing Owen Coyle after a disastrous start to the 2016/17 campaign.
Things improved towards the end of the campaign under the 54-year-old as Blackburn took 22 points from their final 15 Championship matches – more than any other team in the bottom seven. However, the early damage was too much to recover from and they ended up getting relegated to the League One.
Following the relegation, Mowbray went about his business in the transfer market in a shrewd manner, bringing in a number of players who went on to play an integral part in their successful 2017/18 season. The likes of Bradley Dack, Dominic Samuel, Adam Armstrong, Marcus Antonsson were instrumental as Mowbray led Blackburn to the runners-up spot in the third tier of English football, earning immediate promotion back to the Championship.
Having returned to the second division, Mowbray has managed to make a huge impression. The recruitment in the summer window was once again shrewd as the manager secured Armstrong’s services on a permanent transfer. Meanwhile, he also brought in talented young players Kasey Palmer and Harrison Reed on loan, both of whom have made an instant impact.
The fact that Blackburn retained Dack beyond the summer is truly commendable. And a lot of credit has to go to Mowbray. Coming to the football side of things, after 12 matches, the Lancashire outfit are currently placed 10th with 18 points, just a point below Sheffield Wednesday.
So far in his career at Ewood Park, Mowbray has been in charge of 85 matches in total, picking up 43 victories (win percentage of 50.6) while losing just 15 of those. Considering the state the club was in when he took over in 2017, Blackburn’s current situation is quite impressive.
While the results have improved greatly under the 54-year-old, the club’s playing style is quite pleasant and the transfer activity has also been smart. Moreover, Mowbray has brought a sense of leadership, authority and a degree of calmness to a club that was crying out for it ever since Venky’s acquired the club in 2010.
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Perusing the good work Mowbray has done over the past 20 months at Ewood Park – and taking into consideration that the team is continuing to do well – a new long-term contract is no less than what the manager deserves. Go for it, Blackburn!
