Baggies silent on Mowbray Bhoys link

West Brom are remaining tight-lipped regarding speculation linking manager Tony Mowbray with a move to Celtic.

Mowbray has been installed as favourite with some bookmakers to replace Gordon Strachan who resigned yesterday.

The former Bhoys player and ex-Hibernian boss has two years remaining of his current contract at The Hawthorns.

And, if a move back to Parkhead does materialise, it will cost Celtic considerably more in compensation than the £500,000 figure mentioned in reports.

Mowbray led the Baggies to promotion from the Coca-Cola Championship 12 months ago during his first full season in charge.

But West Brom were then instantly relegated from the top flight for the third time in seven years at the end of this season.

Mowbray has retained the support of the majority of the Baggies supporters as he refused to compromise his beliefs and continued to play a passing game despite poor results.

But the ex-Middlesbrough and Ipswich central defender discovered last week that he must trim the size of his senior squad for next season from 31 to 20 players.

And he had been told before the end of the campaign by chairman Jeremy Peace that there will be no new funds available for transfer dealings as he looks to reshape his squad.

Mowbray has publicly insisted he is happy with the parameters he has to work within at Albion.

But he has to decide whether the chance to return to Scotland with one of the Old Firm is an attractive proposition should Celtic firm up their reported interest.