Source: Team_Talk
McAvennie wants beautiful game
West Brom boss Mowbray is now the overwhelming favourite to succeed Gordon Strachan in the managerial hotseat at Parkhead, with reports claiming compensation is now the only stumbling block to his appointment.
Former Celtic star McAvennie, who was a team-mate of Mowbray's at the club in the mid-1990s, reckons that while there was a feast of silverware during Strachan's four-year reign, there was a famine when it came to attractive football.
Mowbray, 45, is renowned for playing a game that is pleasing to the eye, although there are question marks over the flexibility of his tactics.
Despite winning the Championship last year, West Brom finished bottom of the Premier League this season, while the more agricultural Stoke and Hull both survived.
McAvennie believes the Baggies were only a regular goalscorer away from staying up and does not see Mowbray having the same problem at Celtic.
He said: "I think Tony will get the ball down. The fans love to see fast-flowing football and I'm looking forward to it.
"But wait until he signs first. Knowing Celtic, it could change by the hour."
McAvennie contrasted the football Mowbray plays with that seen under Strachan, who quit just under three weeks ago after winning six major trophies in four seasons.
"I don't think anyone will say it was nice football," McAvennie said.
"The fans weren't happy with the way the game was getting
played.
"I don't know if it was Gordon's fault or the board's fault but it was not good to watch.
"I think if they'd have bought in January, they'd have won the fourth title.
"Did they know Gordon was leaving? I don't know.
"Let's wait and see what money they make available to the new manager."
Celtic have so far refused to confirm whether Mowbray is their number one target, while West Brom have repeatedly insisted no official approach has been made for their manager, who has two years remaining on his Hawthorns contract.
But that has not quelled speculation over the amount of compensation it would take to land the former Hoops defender, with figures ranging from £850,000 to £2million.
"It depends if Celtic want to pay compensation," McAvennie said.
"But in today's market, you've got to. You've got to pay the price."
McAvennie had two spells at Celtic between 1987-89 and 1993-94.
It was during the second of these stints that he played alongside Mowbray and revealed it was clear the former defender would move into management once he retired.
"With Tony, it was obvious that was what he was going to go on to," McAvennie said.
Should Mowbray return to Parkhead, he will likely bring with him first-team coach Peter Grant, who spent 15 years in a Hoops jersey between 1982-97.
Grant's first foray into management at Norwich was far from successful but McAvennie - who is still in touch with the 43-year-old - backed him to land another top job in the future.
"I still think Granty will be a good manager someday," said McAvennie, speaking on Sunday to promote the launch of the autobiography of former St Mirren team-mate Billy Abercromby, 'Aber's Gonnae Get Ye!'.
"He had a bad experience with Norwich but he walked away and he'll never do that again."
