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Tony Mowbray spent five years at the helm of Blackburn Rovers, and the former manager is a fan favourite of the club due to his exploits while in charge.
While he got off to a rocky start as he was in charge of the club as they got relegated to League One, he would win the hearts of the Blackburn Rovers fans as he helped guide them back to the Championship before coming close on several occasions to returning the club to the Premier League.
Mowbray may have been able to achieve this ambition of his had he been backed in the transfer market by the club’s owners, the Venky’s; however, this never came to pass.
He was relieved of his position upon the expiration of his contract in May 2022 and was replaced by Jon Dahl Tomasson as head coach.
Mowbray was recently honoured by the club in their 150th anniversary celebrations for his work with the club, and the former manager gave a special heartfelt message to the fans.
Tony Mowbray on his relationship with the Venky’s
The former Blackburn manager has opened up about his time at the club and his working relationship with the Venky’s.
Tony Mowbray explained exactly what they were like on the No Tippy Tappy Podcast.
He said: “The owners have spent hundreds of millions. I went over to India four or five times whilst I was manager, and I met Venky’s.
“They were lovely people. You sit and see them outside in lovely surroundings, with nice water and fruit. We chatted about football; they were very pleasant, lovely people.
“We’d speak about budgets, however many millions they’d spend on the club that year. I found it all very amicable, but they were absent, aside from Suhail.
“They left me alone, and I wouldn’t get phone calls after games. My relationship with Suhail continues to be strong, and he was very supportive in my five years. Not once was there interference around the team.”
The Venky’s attitude to transfer dealings
Tony Mowbray would then explain in this extensive interview exactly how the owners would operate when it came to transfer business with Blackburn Rovers, focusing on the signing of players.
He said: “We didn’t have Wrexham or Birmingham money, but we were buying players. I was in charge of that, which was great for me.
“If we had a £21 million budget, six for players and then wages, I could spend all of it on one player or ten players, as long as I didn’t go back to Venky’s and ask for more money.
“If we wanted to sell a player to create funds for another player, I’d talk that through with Suhail. It worked alright, but we didn’t get over the line.”
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Tony Mowbray’s regrets as Blackburn Rovers boss
While in charge of Blackburn, Tony Mowbray would take them close to play-off finishes in the Championship; however, they could never quite finish in the top six of the league.
He believes that had his character been different and he been more difficult in transfer dealings, he may have delivered a return to the Premier League.
Mowbray said: “I’d been to India, sat in front of them and told them I wouldn’t go back, and asked for more money. I could’ve and said we’re second in the league, but I never did it; it’s not in my personality. It’s probably why I’ve spent most of my career in the Championship.
“I do wonder whether I’d have been a bit nastier; if I’d moaned to owners or stamped my feet, I might have won more. But it’s not in my values; I didn’t feel I could go back.”