Tony Mowbray set for sensational return as Championship relegation battle heats up
Former West Brom manager Tony Mowbray is being linked with a shock return to Blackburn Rovers.
Mowbray has been out of work since being sacked by West Brom in April 2025, at a time when Albion were sitting 10th in the Championship with two games to play.
The 62-year-old had been appointed West Brom manager for the second time in January of last year, having last left The Hawthorns in June 2009 to take the Celtic job.
However, Mowbray could only muster five wins in his 17 games in charge of the Baggies during his second stint, but his successors Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay didn’t/aren’t faring much better.
Tony Mowbray lined up for Blackburn Rovers return
Some West Brom fans felt Mowbray’s sacking papered over recruitment cracks at the time, which has indeed continued to be a problem in B71 since his departure.
This season’s summer recruitment was hit and miss, with Shilen Patel entrusting Mason with a considerable amount of money to spend, but rewards haven’t really been reaped from it.
As such, this has instantly put new boss Ramsay on the back foot regarding what he can and can’t do in this winter window, with just Max O’Leary and Danny Imray arriving so far respectively.
And, following West Brom’s highly disappointing 3-0 defeat away at Portsmouth on Saturday, many Baggies fans are now already calling for change in the dugout once again.
However, one team that is faring slightly worse than West Brom at present is Blackburn Rovers, who sit one place and three points behind Albion in 22nd.
As such, Valerien Ismael could be facing the sack at Ewood Park, and according to TEAMtalk reporter Graeme Bailey via X on Sunday, Rovers are looking into a return for Mowbray.
Mowbray spent just over five years in charge of Blackburn between 2017-2022, having guided them to Championship promotion in 2018, and brought them to within the brink of the Championship play-off places.
Most West Brom fans would surely feel in safer hands with Mowbray
Whilst it’s true that Mowbray’s second and short-lived reign as West Brom boss didn’t go to plan, he remains a well-loved and popular figure among the Albion faithful for his previous exploits with their team.
Mowbray’s Albion side won promotion to the Premier League in 2007-08, and despite being relegated the following year, he helped lay the foundations for Roberto Di Matteo’s side to go straight back up in 2009-10.
He’s also vastly experienced at Championship level, and knows West Brom inside out, and his attacking style of play could get the best out of the players such as Aune Heggebo and Isaac Price.
So, it’s probably safe to assume that if you were to go round The Hawthorns and poll Albion fans on whether they’d rather have Mowbray or Ramsay in charge right now, most would pick the former.
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