Tony Mowbray set for management return and Middlesbrough & Sunderland reunions
TONY Mowbray could be set for an emotional Riverside return - as West Brom boss.
The former Middlesbrough and Sunderland manager is reportedly now the frontrunner to take charge of the Baggies after detailed talks took place on Thursday. If those discussions continue to progress, it's said the appointment could be confirmed in the next 24 hours.
West Brom have been on the lookout for a new boss since Carlos Corberan left for Valencia just before Christmas.
Mowbray is a hugely popular figure at the Hawthorns having led Albion to Premier League promotion during his first stint in charge.
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The 61-year-old has been out of work since stepping away from Birmingham City after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
In an emotional interview with BBC Tees in November, Mowbray said "his world came crashing down" and it had been the "toughest year of his life".
But treatment went well and he was open at that point about his desire to return to management when he felt the time was right.
He held initial talks with West Brom but it looked as though the Baggies were going to appoint Raphael Wicky, who was heavily linked with Sunderland in the summer. But after negotiations with Wicky broke down, further Mowbray discussions took place and he now looks set to take charge.
It's extremely unlikely that he'll be in the dugout for tomorrow's home game against Stoke City. But if an appointment is confirmed in the next day or two, Mowbray will take charge for the first time when Albion face Boro at the Riverside on Tuesday night.
He'll also come up against Sunderland before the end of the season, with the Black Cats set to travel to the Hawthorns at the start of April.
Mowbray was a special guest at the Riverside for the 1-0 win over Swansea on the first day of the season, when he said he was humbled by the support he'd received from Teessiders during his illness.
