Source: Team_Talk
Auld: Philosophy lead to sacking
Mowbray's short reign came to an end after just nine months yesterday after suffering a shock 4-0 defeat against St Mirren in the Scottish Premier League.[LNB]Even in the wake of the defeat at Saints, the former Hoops boss could not resist having a dig at rivals Rangers, accusing them of "negative football".[LNB]But Auld insists Mowbray's own footballing philosophy did not fit with the huge demand for results at Celtic, just as it failed to keep West Brom in the Premier League.[LNB]He said: "It looked as though it was on the cards, with the performances in the last few weeks and the inconsistency.[LNB]"I thought he would have done a great job there but he wouldn't change his ways.[LNB]"Everybody loves philosophy but the players dictate the philosophy and the most important thing in his job was the results.[LNB]"I thought he did a marvellous job at Hibs and West Brom but his philosophy also knocked him down at West Brom as well when they got relegated last year."[LNB]Mowbray's fate was sealed when he finally lost the backing of the fans after the loss in Paisley, according to Peter Rafferty, President of the Affiliation of Celtic Supporters' Clubs.[LNB]The capitulation left Celtic 10-points adrift of Rangers - who have two games in hand - in the SPL and was their heaviest league defeat, outside an Old Firm derby, in 30 years.[LNB]Rafferty said: "I don't suppose it has come as any great surprise unfortunately because of the way the results have been going.[LNB]"The result was just one result too many for the fans. The manner in which we were defeated didn't go down well at all.[LNB]"The pressure a Celtic manager is under is immense, as some of his predecessors found out as well. We are in the winning game and we like to play attractive, open football as well.[LNB]"Tony promised that to the fans but unfortunately there were so many changes for different reasons and that didn't materialise."[LNB]Mowbray's predecessor Gordon Strachan believes the scrutiny Old Firm managers are under is greater than ever.[LNB]Recalling Walter Smith's return to Rangers three years ago, he said: "After about six months, he said the big difference was night and day.[LNB]"He said, 'The whole thing, the media thing is absolutely brutal'. Now we've got internet chat rooms; everything can start rumours that you have to deal with, which we never had before and he said it's changed completely."[LNB]European Cup-winning captain and former manager Billy McNeill said: "If you're getting some decent results then the Celtic fans will be there in their hordes. But if you don't, you pay the penalty."[LNB]Paul Hartley, who left Celtic for Bristol City as Mowbray arrived in the summer, told BBC Radio Scotland: "It's hard to find any positives. He got rid of too many players too quickly."[LNB]Meanwhile, former Celtic winger Davie Provan fears the club could struggle to find a top-class manager to replace Mowbray who would meet the high expectations of the supporters.[LNB]Ex-skipper Paul Lambert has been installed as the bookmakers' favourite but stated recently he has no desire to return to the east end of Glasgow.[LNB]Provan told Sky Sports News: "I think it's fair to say it's a job, at the moment, that does not hold the type of appeal that it had when Martin O'Neill came to Glasgow."[LNB][LNB][LNB] Scottish Premier League. Click here to bet.
