Celtic approach Albion for Mowbray
Albion have confirmed that the club have received an approach from Celtic to speak to manager Tony Mowbray about their vacant manager's job.
See also: Mowbray in Pictures - Change afoot?
Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace confirmed this afternoon that the first approach had been made from the Scottish Premier League giants, who now are looking for permission to speak to their former captain.
So a fortnight of speculation has culminated in iron-clad proof that the 45-year-old is on the radar of the Parkhead club.
Peace said: "I have finally received a call from the Celtic chief executive, Peter Lawwell, requesting permission to speak to Tony.
"I made it absolutely clear that Celtic's approach was not welcome, because we have an ongoing project at Albion of which our manager is an integral part.
"His style of play is a key factor in that project and the supporters have very much bought into it, as everyone saw by the terrific reception the fans gave Tony and the players after our final home game against Liverpool.
"It is also reflected by the fact we have already sold more than 16,000 season tickets for 2009/10."
There is still a continued message of 'hands-off' coming out of the Hawthorns but the Championship club know that in Mowbray's contract is a compensation get-out clause, enabling him to leave if a certain figure is met.
So Peace knows that, if Celtic agree to meet their figure and their manager wants to listen to what the Bhoys have to say, Albion's hands could be tied.
The chairman said: "We inserted a compensation figure when Tony signed a new contract 16 months ago to ensure that the club would be suitably recompensed in the event of any other club seeking his services.
"Most people would regard it as a fair figure. It was inserted in the contract in good faith and is non-negotiable, because we don't want to lose our manager.
"Celtic have been made aware of the compensation figure and, if they agree to pay this, only then will I speak to Tony to get his thoughts on the situation.
"Until and unless that happens, as far as we are concerned, it is business as usual as we plan for a very important season ahead of us.
"We hope this is the end of the matter as we do not need any further, unwelcome distractions for the job in hand."
