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Tony Mowbray forced to temporarily step away from Birmingham job for medical treatment

It has been confirmed that Tony Mowbray has been forced to temporarily step away from Birmingham job for medical treatment.

The 60 year old Blues boss is to take six to eight weeks away from the club for medical treatment with Mark Venus taking temporary charge of the first team.

He addressed players and staff members during a private meeting on Monday morning at the training base and informed his colleagues prior to the training session.

It is highly unlikely that Mowbray will return before the end of the season, which concludes on the 4th of May with sources indicating that the club’s manager will step down immediately to focus on receiving treatment starting this week.

This comes just six weeks after Mowbray took over the position following Wayne Rooney’s unsuccessful tenure.

STATEMENT:

Birmingham City can confirm that Manager, Tony Mowbray, requires medical treatment which means he will be temporarily stepping away from the on-site management of the Club for a period of approximately six to eight weeks.

Assistant Manager, Mark Venus, will assume temporary responsibility for the team with immediate effect.

Mowbray said: “Following my recent LMA Health Assessment I have received a medical diagnosis that will require me to receive treatment. Undergoing treatment will necessitate that I temporarily step away from the Technical Area as Manager of Birmingham City Football Club. Until I return, my Assistant Manager, Mark Venus, will take temporary charge of the team, supported by coaches Ashley Cole, Pete Shuttleworth and Maik Taylor. I will continue to provide advice and counsel while undergoing treatment.

“The Club has been incredibly supportive of me and my family and we are very grateful. I know that everyone will be respectful of our privacy at this time.”

Birmingham City Chief Executive Officer, Garry Cook, said: “Our thoughts are with Tony, his wife Amber, and family. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to welcoming Tony back to the Club to continue the excellent work that he has started. In the meantime, Mark Venus, Ashley Cole, Pete Shuttleworth and Maik Taylor, will be given all the support they need to lead the Club forward.”

Speaking to BluesTV after his side’s win over Sunderland at the weekend, Mowbray spoke of the togetherness within the group to help secure the victory and expressed the importance of the supporters.

“We are all very proud of the team, proud of the supporters who played a huge part in us getting over the line. It was an interesting talk at half-time of belief, confidence and we keep going. Thankfully, we managed to turn it around and it gives me the confidence that this team are very connected and very together.

“For the supporters who come and watch us, they don’t want to see a team that can’t play and keep losing games, they want to see us be a team that tries to play football, but fight and graft and that’s what we try to do. The non-negotiables in this team have got to be that you compete and you run and you tackle and you fight.

“What’s great for me is you go in the dressing room after the game and they are chanting ‘Koji, Koji, Koji’, and it’s just the togetherness. Hopefully, this club is moving in the right direction and we’ve got some really talented young players, we need to keep going and keep driving.”

Birmingham will take on two of the current Championship top four in the next couple of weekends, a trip to Ipswich Town and the hosting of Southampton, but Mowbray said he wanted to see his team thrive against tough opposition.

“You want them to express themselves, I call it the inner child because any professional footballer was generally the best player in their school team, in their town, and everybody was raving about them. I try to give them the confidence to find their inner child really and bring it out of them.

“We have tough games coming up, but I want the team to believe that we can beat anybody. They are only footballers, why would you have any fears, go and play against them and believe that you are good enough to beat them.”

Twitter users reacted after hearing that Tony Mowbray has been forced to temporarily step away from Birmingham job for medical treatment…

@MiserableMackem: Get well soon, Tony. Hopefully it isn’t something too serious ♥️🤍

@dave_barton76: Always liked Mowbray, good player back in the day as well, hope he recovers from whatever this is and makes a full recovery

@GiffordGeorge: All the very best Tony. From an appreciative Sunderland fan.

@_kieranbl: Best wishes, Mogga. Big shame as he would have got a warm welcome on Saturday 💙 Once a Blue

@covjim: Just as blues were getting it together… hope he gets well and back to work soon..

@Bradshawww: Thoughts and prayers are with you gaffer. As our song goes, “though the way be long, let your heart beat strong” – KRO! 💙

@connor_t94: Ah shit man. Really hope he’s okay. Stay strong tone! Health always comes first

@hedley_mark: Hope he is ok, sending good wishes to Tony and his family

@IpswichTownFans: Get well soon, Mogga 💙 Was looking forward to giving him a nice welcome on Saturday 😔 #itfc

@stellytalks:
Tony fantastico,
Tony magnifico,
Ole Ole,
Tony Mowbray!
Get well soon, gaffer! Love from all of the fans 💙

@ste_lew1s: Fucking hell. Get well soon Tony lad ❤️

@RyanBCFC1: Speedy recovery gaffer 💙 will be missed in the dugout. But the lads know what needs to be done.

@DavidJo20773066: Get well soon Tony, I hope your treatment goes well and you’re back in the dugout soon. Hopefully this will galvanise the squad even more and they do it for you Tony. KRO 💙

@jobsterdave: Tony Mowbray… a real manager and fighter. All the best wishes of Bluenoses everywhere are with him. Get well soon 💙⚽️

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