Tony Mowbray verdict and the conflicting emotions of Blackburn Rovers fans

This week, our Rovers' Jury gave their reaction to Tony Mowbray's return as head coach.

When I saw the announcement of Mowbray's return, my immediate reaction was one of big surprise. Although his name had been linked a bit, it seemed like Tony was out the running.

When you layer on how he exited the club in 2022, a return to the club did feel unlikely. Those last interview videos aren't great viewing four years later.

It's a tough one to evaluate because above anything, Mowbray is a fantastic human being and one whom I absolutely trust and believe has Rovers' best interests at heart. That counts a lot for me in a summer where we have plenty to do, and where we will find it ever more competitive in the Championship this coming season.

However, in a footballing sense, he wasn't first choice for me and I think it represents somewhat of a sideways step. How much have we progressed in four years?

If the media rumours are to be believed, there was potentially disagreement about which way to go next. I feel like Mowbray, therefore, represents the safe choice that symbolises a disjointed leadership at Rovers.

The positives are that we have a manager in place in early June, and we can now start proper planning for next season. If anyone deserves our backing, it's Tony. It remains to be seen whether his return is the right choice. I hope so.

More:What Tony Mowbray said about Blackburn Rovers board and why he has returned

One of the positives around Michael O’Neill’s appointment was that he understood exactly what it takes to be successful, or at the very least stable, in the Championship. He knew the division, understood the demands of a 46-game season and would almost certainly have wanted a strong voice in recruitment and the direction of the football club.

In many ways, the same can be said of Mowbray.

His return is not without risk. Since leaving us, results have been mixed. He did an impressive job getting a young Sunderland side close to promotion, but struggled to make the same impact during his return to West Brom. Equally, it is difficult to escape the feeling that turning back to Mowbray says something about how little we have moved on as a club in recent years.

That said, there is no questioning what he achieved during his first spell. He rebuilt us after relegation, restored stability and gave supporters some of the most enjoyable football we have seen in years. By the end, it felt like the right time for both parties to move on, but what never sat right was the lack of respect shown to him after five years of service. He deserved better than simply seeing his contract run down.

Perhaps the most exciting aspect is recruitment. Mowbray always seemed capable of finding a gem on loan from a Premier League club. Harvey Elliott is the obvious example, and I suspect many supporters are already wondering who the next one might be.

Whatever your view, he and the lads will have my full backing.

(Image: Blackburn Rovers)

Mowbray is the best man for the job because he is probably the only candidate who will accept the conditions we believe will be placed upon him.

He’s a safe pair of hands. He knows the club. He knows the politics. He’s a firefighter. We need to stabilise the club. These are the reasons for him to take the job; unfortunately, that has nothing to do with progressing Blackburn Rovers. The fact that these are the conditions to suggest Tony is the best man for the job is the problem.

Let’s not rewrite history, Mowbray, although he was treated without the necessary respect, had reached a point where a refresh was needed. It’s a damning indictment on the club that we are back here four years later.

Tony won’t walk away like other managers; he will deflect attention away from the board. This appointment doesn’t suggest ambition; it suggests survival. Every new manager, every new player, every new preseason, even if it’s a glimmer, is a chance of hope that we can “Think Big”. Is Tony a better option than Slaven Bilic? Absolutely, he is, but the fact that it is a question shows where the problem lies.

I wish him every success and really hope it works, but I'm not sure what that looks like right now.

More:Arte et Labore: Tony Mowbray returns to Blackburn Rovers

I mean, WOW. When I saw the news on Friday I assumed at first that someone had been having some fun on ChatGPT.

Seeing it from the official account brought about a range of emotions - some good, some not so good, as even now it is really difficult to imagine how this plays out in reality.

So what's my verdict?

It does feel like a step back, more in mentality than anything else. It's like Rovers have stopped trying to formulate something resembling a new plan, as that would take too much effort and creativity, and just gone back to what feels "safe". Which isn't necessarily a bad thing - in many parts of the club we're a mess, so having someone who knows the league, the system and what chaos he's about to exist in actually helps.

But after Tony's health challenges, time away and after the slightly bitter taste that was left in the mouth by the end of his last reign, it will be very interesting to see what his appetite for it all is.

More:Premier League plan and key takeaways from Tony Mowbray's Blackburn Rovers interview

Rovers need clarity and leadership, and Mowbray has shown in the past he can make Rovers look good on the pitch, even when the sum of the parts in the background tell us we probably should be worse.

Recruitment now needs to be better, both in and out, it this does feel like a reset. I'm keeping everything crossed - he's a very decent bloke, with a strong head on his shoulders, and we need as many of those as we can get.

Tony, you have my patience and my backing.

You can listen to Ryan on The Lancashire Telegraph's Arte et Labore and find Mark on The Blackburn End. Available on all podcast platforms.