THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
GLASGOW, Scotland — Celtic fired manager Tony Mowbray on Thursday during his first season in charge after the Scottish Premier League club’s title hopes were crushed.
Mowbray was dismissed a day after a 4-0 thrashing by St. Mirren left Celtic trailing defending champion Rangers by 10 points, having played two more matches than its Glasgow rival.
"I am very disappointed to be leaving Glasgow Celtic," Mowbray said in a statement. "I am very proud to have not only managed but also played for a club with such great tradition and that has tremendous roots in football history."
Mowbray, who made 93 appearances for Celtic between 1991 and ’95, was hired as manager in June on a rolling, 12-month contract after leaving West Bromwich Albion, which had just been relegated to England’s second tier.
"We have had a difficult season and results have not been as we would have hoped," Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said. "Tony is equally disappointed at some of our results this season but, working so closely with him, I know that throughout his period as manager he has always given the club his total and absolute commitment."
Former captain Neil Lennon, who was reserve-team coach, will be in charge until the end of the season.
Mowbray refused to deviate from his principles of free-following attacking football, but he acknowledged after Wednesday’s humiliation that his philosophy was perhaps not suited to the Scottish game.
"Maybe it isn’t a league for trying to force the game and be expansive," Mowbray said Wednesday. "Maybe it is a league for playing defensive, negative football and having quality up front to counterattack."
Mowbray experienced an early setback to his management career at Parkhead when the team was ousted from the Champions League before the group stage.
And the hangover hit the consolation Europa League campaign, with Celtic failing to advance from the group stage.