Mowbray's looking up

Tony Mowbray has set his sights on steering West Brom back to the Premier League at the first attempt after being unveiled as Bryan Robson’s successor.

Mowbray is excited by the quality of players at his disposal after moving to The Hawthorns from Hibernian on a one-year rolling contract.

Mowbray admitted he will not be making radical changes after three successive wins have propelled the Baggies into the top three of the Coca-Cola Championship.

Mowbray, who has brought Mark Venus with him from Easter Road as his assistant manager, said: “I’ve looked at the squad of players already at this club and it is an opportunity I’m very excited about.

“I’ve watched Albion’s last couple of games and to win 5-1 at Ipswich is some achievement. Then at Crystal Palace I saw a different type of performance when the lads showed great guts and determination.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and hopefully we can move altogether in the right direction and back to where we all want to be (in the Premier League).”

Mowbray, who had spells at Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Celtic as a player, added: “All I’ve got to try and do is keep the ship steady and pointing in the direction it is currently going and then let’s see how far we can go.

“Every new manager has got his own ideas and I’ve dropped a couple in already. But I won’t be changing much. You ease your way into a football club and don’t disrupt things.

“I’m looking for the right response but the talent is definitely there. They’re more than capable of being very competitive at the top end of the table.”

Albion chairman Jeremy Peace insisted Mowbray was the club’s number one choice to take over from Robson, who ended his 22-month spell at the club four weeks ago.

He explained: “We wanted to go through a process of very diligent research into whom our next manager would be. That is why we’ve taken four weeks to reach the decision.

“Tony was our number one choice unanimously. He comes with a great reputation and is a man of honesty and integrity. I wanted someone with a desire and the motivation for the job and Tony certainly fills those criteria.

“His footballing philosophy is also in accordance with the great West Brom tradition of playing flowing, attacking football.”