Tony's going to need a Plan B

FIRST things first. After four years in which the Celtic supporters watched Gordon Strachan's interviews through the cracks in their fingers, it was good to see new manager Tony Mowbray restore some dignity to the position.

There is a real humility about the man that will endear him to the club's support.

That won't win him football matches but it will certainly earn him the benefit of the doubt and that is important.

The fact is Mowbray has precious little time to settle in. If the punters are behind him early on he has a better chance of succeeding. Either way the infighting of the Strachan years has been laid to rest. The healing process can begin.

Let me be honest, Mowbray would not have been my choice.

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However, it's clear the board weren't spoiled for choice. The diminishing regard for the SPL beyond our borders means that they were never going to get a Frank Rijkaard or a Marco van Basten. When Owen Coyle is knocking Celtic back to stay at Burnley that tells its own story.

Many have bought into the Mowbray coaching philosophy, one that even saw West Brom applauded off the pitch after their relegation had been confirmed. I hope the big fella isn't naive enough to think he'll get the same reception in Glasgow if he comes up short.

Tony's reputation has soared on the back of a passing game that is non-negotiable. At his introduction last week he swore by those principles.

If I were Peter Lawwell I would be wanting to see his Plan B as well.

The last time I saw West Brom was in April against Manchester City at Eastlands. The Baggies were a treat to watch, passed City off the pitch - and lost 4-2. If Mowbray sets Celtic up the same way in the Champions League qualifiers they're likely to get turned over.

Like Strachan before him, there must be boardroom concern over his lack of exposure in Europe. That inexperience did for Strachan in his first game against Artmedia when he was throwing on strikers instead of locking the back door.

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Likewise, Tony's limited European involvement at Hibs was hardly impressive. A UEFA Cup first round 5-1 aggregate spanking from Dnipro was followed by an Intertoto defeat to Odense the following year.

With Celtic's qualifiers just weeks, away Mowbray has to hit the ground running. The compensation paid to get Tony and his coaching staff has wiped £2million off the budget already. He doesn't have time to make the wholesale changes required of this team.

Throw in the imminent departure of Shunsuke Nakamura and Mowbray is going to need a wedge of luck to get Celtic into the Champions League group stage.

Across town, Walter Smith has no such worries. Smith is Mowbray's polar opposite - a hard-bitten, time-served cynic who puts points ahead of principles every time.

That approach saw Scotland beat France when he was national coach as well as steering a plodding Rangers side to the final of the UEFA Cup.

Did it bother Smith when he was slaughtered for going with one up in that campaign? Like hell it did. Would he have been anoyed when Falkirk took the plaudits after the Scottish Cup Final? No chance. The Rangers boss doesn't do beauty contests, he knows how to blag silverware.

Having seen off Strachan, he'll relish the new contest. The purist against the pragmatist. May the best man win.

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