Ipswich Town eye up potential move for Blackburn Rovers manager Tony Mowbray

It is Suffolk News' understanding that Tony Mowbray is high up on the Ipswich Town wishlist to become club's next manager.

A whole host of names – including the likes of Frank Lampard, John Terry, Marc Bircham, Neil Harris and Neil Lennon – have been linked with the vacancy since the decision was taken to axe Paul Cook on Saturday evening.

Bircham and Harris currently lead the betting market, but it is 50/1 shot Mowbray that we have been informed carries favouritism within the Ipswich boardroom.

The 58-year-old, who made more than 100 appearances for the Tractor Boys between 1995 and 2000, is currently in charge of Championship outfit Blackburn Rovers.

Rovers are riding high in fourth position and Mowbray is also up for the Championship's Manager of the Month award for November, but as it stands he is out of contract at Ewood Park in the summer.

Asked back in September by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph about his contract situation, Mowbray replied: “I have never really been interested in contracts. I have never ever sat down, ever, and asked for a contract or thought about contracts.

“In my mind, I’ve been a coach for over 20 years, I’ve never once, ever, asked about contracts. You have to manage as if you’re going to be here forever, that’s how you have to manage football clubs.

“Generally, if you’re doing well, people give you contracts, they knock on your door and say ‘we want to do this, or that’.

“Then you have to make a life decision, a lot of it is around my family and what’s best for my family, my kids, my wife, how far away is it.

“I’m 57, I make decisions for my kids and my family, I’ve always done that. I’ve moved my family to Glasgow, to the west Midlands, we’re now based in the north east of England and everything is a decision long-term.

“This football club, I like the challenge of building a football club so when I go in, and even if I get a six-month contract, I build for the future, put roots down."

Mowbray, who had four games in interim charge of Ipswich in 2002 between the tenures of George Burley and Joe Royle, was also strongly linked with the manager's job in 2006 and again in 2018.

He is assisted at Blackburn by another ex-Ipswich defender – Mark Venus.