Stephen McManus has said that there would be no dressing room problems if Tony Mowbray is appointed Middlesbrough manager.
The former Celtic boss is the bookies favourite to take over from Gordon Strachan who walked out of the Riverside Stadium for the last time on Monday.
McManus, Scott McDonald, Barry Robson and Willo Flood were all sent to ‘Boro in January as Mowbray attempted to put his own stamp on the Celtic team.
Mowbray gave the impression early last season that he couldn’t wait to ditch most of the player’s that he inherited from Strachan but McManus has insisted that the former Celts at Middlesbrough would welcome his return to the north east.
“We are not Celtic lads, we are Middlesbrough lads,” said the former Celtic captain. “Everyone else will talk about things like that. Whoever comes in, the chairman will take his time picking the right man.
“We will be 100 per cent behind the man and you take pride in what you do whoever is in charge. That is what we will do. We have no idea who will come in. All you can do is concentrate on your own game. We have to put our work in for Steve Agnew and Mark Proctor.”
Former Premiership manager’s Phil Brown and Gary Megson have been linked with the vacancy but are hardly likely to have the supporters beating a path back to the Riverside.
Former ‘Boro defender Nigel Pearson has been linked with the job but has recently signed a three year contract with Hull City
Boro chairman Steve Gibson will decide who replaces Strachan and knows that bringing in Mowbray would get the fans off his back.
Whether that’s in the club’s best interests remains to be seen and there’s bound to be some issues with players not deemed good enough by the same manager less than a year ago.
Mowbray remains on extended gardening leave from Celtic with an appointment expected next week after Saturday’s visit to Paul Lambert’s Norwich City.
Other names linked with the job include Paul Ince and Manchester United’s Gary Neville.
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